The Penn State football team will take the field in its opener in Bloomington, Indiana just two Saturdays from today. There’s no doubt excitement is at its peak with fans having to wait almost 10 months since last season’s victory over Memphis in the Cotton Bowl to see the Nittany Lions compete.

The 2020 Penn State squad returns a ton of talent from last season’s 11-2 team and there is quite a bit of hype surrounding the Nittany Lions with many writers and analysts considering either them or Ohio State to be the favorites to come away with the Big Ten East Division crown.

Without even playing a game, Penn State ranks No. 9 in the AP poll and No. 8 in the Coaches Poll. If the Nittany Lions are going to live up to the preseason hype, they’re once again going to need to have a solid season on the defensive side of the ball. The loss of All-American linebacker Micah Parsons (109 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles) will certainly have an impact, but fortunately for Penn State its coaching staff has built solid depth at every position through the recruiting process, especially at linebacker.

In my last Penn State of Mind column I took a look at who I think will be starting for the Nittany Lions on the offensive side of the ball this season, so this time, let’s see who I believe will be out there on the opening defensive possession against the Hoosiers come Oct. 24.

DEFENSIVE LINE

I believe the front four is set in stone for the Nittany Lions and it’s a good group. Experienced redshirt (RS) senior defensive Shaka Toney (6.5 sacks) returns and RS sophomore Jayson Oweh (5 sacks), who has been primed for a breakout season will get his first shot at anchoring a defensive end spot all by himself. Oweh has the potential to be a big time pass rusher.

Veteran RS senior Antonio Shelton and talented junior PJ Mustipher will be the men in the middle. Mustipher, like Oweh is expected to have a breakout year. At defensive end, look for RS senior Shane Simmons and sophomore Adisa Isaac to make an impact. Isaac has similar athletic gifts to Oweh. Fred Hansard could be considered a third starter at defensive tackle.

LINEBACKER

What could have been with 6-3 245-pound Micah Parsons flying around the field this season for Penn State after a breakout sophomore campaign? But Parsons opted out and he won’t be back, so replacing him will be junior Jesse Luketa, who moves from the inside to the outside for this season. Sophomore Brandon Smith will stay on the outside and has Parsons-like potential with great speed for his size at 6-3 240 pounds. Ellis Brooks and Charlie Katshir will see time at middle linebacker. RS freshman Lance Dixon will also see time on the outside as well.

Despite the loss of Parsons, this is a strong, deep and talented group.

DEFENSIVE BACK

This group will be led by senior veterans Lamont Wade (safety) and Tariq Castro-Fields (cornerback). Senior Jaquan Brisker will lock up the other safety spot, while sophomores Marquis Wilson and Keaton Ellis battle it out for the other corner spot opposite Castro-Fields. RS junior Jonathan Sutherland will also see significant time at safety. Youngster Joey Porter Jr. has been turning heads and could see some impactful time as well.

RS junior Donovan Johnson would’ve been in the mix for a starting cornerback spot, but suffered a season-ending injury during the summer.