It’s not often you see position changes once camp has started and a team gets this close to its season opener, but for a guy like Penn State safety-turned-linebacker DaKaari Nelson, it made a lot of sense.
Nelson, a former highly regarded four-star prospect from Alabama, has the frame to play closer to the ball and more frequently in the box. He’s 6-foot-3 and 217 pounds on Penn State’s official roster, while James Franklin said the redshirt freshman arrived around 220 pounds last season and was “fighting it” while trying to get closer to a typical safety’s weight.
Since the recent switch from Anthony Poindexter’s group to Tom Allen’s, the returns have been solid.
“We had a conversation with him, he was open to it and it’s really been good for him and us,” Franklin said after practice Tuesday night. “He’s playing physical right now, showing up a lot in practice, making plays.”
Beyond his natural size lending itself to linebacker, Penn State experienced a few hits at the position. Two young players expected to contribute in some way — Keon Wylie and Kaveion Keys — have since experienced significant shakeups. Wylie will miss time with an injury but should be back by the end of the season, while Keys was dismissed at the start of camp alongside defensive end Jameial Lyons.
“Obviously, we need a little bit more depth at linebacker, and you’re looking at creative ways to solve problems,” Franklin said.
Fellow second-year linebacker Tony Rojas said the rest of the position had joked for some time about having Nelson switch into their group, acknowledging Nelson’s unusual size at safety.
“It happened, and we were all happy for him,” Rojas said. “I think it’s going to be good for him. He’s got the body type to be a Sam or whatever backer he plays. So we’ll see how it goes.”
Coverage skills can be a major boost from Nelson’s time at safety, too. He’ll be a natural fit while guarding tight ends and will have the ability to play both inside and outside leverage at a high level, Rojas said. He’s already helped coach up other linebackers in coverage at times.
“He’s done a good job. He keeps asking questions. So he’ll be pretty good,” Rojas said. “Being able to have that size in the box and having the mechanics of a safety, with his footwork, it’s going to lead him in a big way.”
Nelson played in just two games last season, against Delaware and Ole Miss, without recording a stat.
“I think he’s excited about it. I get it. He’s never done it before. You’re kind of unsure,” Franklin said. “But I think his genetics were kind of telling him, and then an opportunity presented itself, and he’s moved there, and so far so good. He’s done some really nice things.”