Penn State safety Ji’Ayir Brown is getting a lot of hype for this upcoming season, and one outlet is buying the hype. Brown has been selected as a preseason Athlon Sports third-team All-American.
Brown 5-foot-11, 208-pound fifth-year senior out of Trenton, New Jersey started all 13 games for Penn State in 2021, recording 73 tackles (61 solo), six interceptions, which was tied for most in the nation, five pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries.
Brown’s efforts awarded him with third-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and an All-Conference honorable mention by the media.
Brown, just like former Penn State All-American Jaquan Brisker also took the Juco route to stardom. Brown, like Brisker played for Lackawanna Community College from 2018-2019. As a freshman, he recorded 40 tackles, five interceptions, and three pass breakups. As a sophomore, he tallied 35 tackles, three interceptions, and five breakups while the Falcons went 21-1 in the two years he played at Lackawanna.
In his first year at Penn State, he appeared in all nine games and recorded five tackles for the 2020 season.
Brown will be expected to be the leader of the Penn State defense, along with Jonathan Sutherland, and Joey Porter Jr. to lead Penn State’s defense under new defensive coordinator Manny Diaz and I believe that Brown will be a perfect leader for Diaz’s defensive scheme.
Twitter:@bwalkerdadon
