One of Penn State football’s linebackers is expected to miss an extended period of time due to injury.
In news first reported by Blue-White Illustrated then confirmed by Lions247, third-year LB Keon Wylie is expected to miss “significant time.”
Working to replace a pair of starting linebackers, Penn State position depth takes a hit as the Lions expect Keon Wylie to miss "significant" time due to an injury.@Lions247 confirmed with a program official. Reported by @PennStateOn3 first. Details:https://t.co/15t0cx22Vv
— Tyler Donohue (@TDsTake) May 8, 2024
This is a big blow for Wylie, who didn’t get a ton of playing time on defense throughout his first two seasons.
The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder from Philadelphia’s famous Imhotep Charter High School came to Penn State as a defensive end, but was moved to linebacker by the start of his true freshman season. Wylie redshirted his first year but impressed on the practice squad enough to be named the team’s Developmental Squad Defensive Player of the Year, an honor he shared with Jake Wilson.
This past season, Wylie played in all 13 of Penn State’s games, playing mainly on special teams.
Defensively, he ended the year with 17 tackles (13 solo), three sacks, five tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry.
The day Penn State signed Wylie, assistant head coach and defensive recruiting coordinator Terry Smith made a bold statement.
“I think Keon Wylie may be the best player on the defensive side,” Smith, who is Penn State’s No. 1 recruiter for the Philly area, said.
The defensive side for the 2022 class includes Carter, as well as five-star defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton and others. So that’s pretty high praise.
Overall, Penn State’s linebackers will be a group in transition this season.
Three-year starter Curtis Jacobs is departed, and Abdul Carter, arguably the team’s most talented player on either side of the ball, has moved to defensive end. The group does have promise, however, with sophomores Tony Rojas and Ta’Mere Robinson each impressing.
