Two days ago, Penn State’s defense– particularly its secondary– received a boost when safety Ji’ayir Brown announced his plans to return to State College in 2022.
Thursday, Nittany Lions fans received more good news when redshirt senior Jonathan Sutherland tweeted his intentions to return to Penn State next season.
Romans 8:28 pic.twitter.com/coVFMVtxQs
— Jonathan Sutherland (@jay_suth) December 23, 2021
“Since I was 8 years old playing football in Canada,” Sutherland, an Ottawa, Ontario, native, wrote, “it has always been a dream of mine to make the transition to the states to play at the collegiate level. To be able to fulfill that dream and play in front of the best fans in the world is a feeling I cannot put into words. My time here at Penn State has developed and strengthened me mentally, emotionally and physically as a man and as a student-athlete.”
Sutherland has been with the program since 2017 but has never become a regular starter. As the Nittany Lions’ depth chart looks right now, it seems that Keaton Ellis– set to be a senior next season– would be his biggest competition to start at safety. Sutherland also has experience playing linebacker, starting a game against Rutgers this season.
“My work isn’t done, and I look forward to seeing everyone next season,” he wrote toward the end of his statement. “I want to personally thank Coach Franklin and the rest of the staff for the continued opportunity to be part of this culture. Let’s get to work.”
