For Gateway product Jaquan Brisker, 'just being a Nittany Lion is great'

Given the season’s unique circumstances, all NCAA athletes in fall sports will have the option of another year of eligibility.

So as a senior, Penn State safety and Gateway product Jaquan Brisker could return or opt to pursue an NFL career.

If he has given any thought to which path he’ll take, he doesn’t appear willing to share that publicly.

“Mostly, I’m just focused on practice today,” Brisker said during a video conference with media Wednesday. “Preparing for Michigan State, being out there with my brothers and finding a way to win this Saturday.”

Saturday will be senior day at Beaver Stadium, and Brisker will be honored accordingly.

He has been one of Penn State’s leading tacklers this season with 41 tackles (23 solo, 18 assists).

But after leading the team with two interceptions last year, he has none this season.

Reflecting on that statistic, Brisker was succinct when asked if he has been satisfied with his play.

“I could be better,” he said. “So, no.”

Brisker expanded on what he can improve on to be a greater threat to generate turnovers.

“When it comes to those plays, just make my plays,” Brisker said. “Especially when the ball is thrown my way, just make those plays. Because once that happens, sometimes I never see the ball again. Just make my plays that come to me and take advantage of the opportunity.”

After starting 0-5 for the first time in program history, Penn State is on a modest two-game winning streak, thanks in part to better efforts on defense.

“I would say after the (35-19 loss to Maryland on Nov. 7) or maybe after the (41-21 loss to Iowa on Nov. 21) … as a unit we had to realize we have to turn this around,” Brisker said. “We weren’t last year’s team so we had to figure out who were are. We just had to come back to reality of what type of team 2020 wants to be.”

As far as the pass defense goes, Brisker indicated the formula for success has been basic.

“Just not letting anything deep,” he said. “Just playing whatever defense we’re in at the time. Just doing our jobs.”

Brisker’s journey to Penn State wasn’t direct.

After graduating from Gateway, he spent two seasons at Lackawanna College in Scranton.

“In high school, like my first two, three years, I had trouble with my grades at first,” Brisker said.

“Then at the end, it was coming close to where if I got (passing numbers) on my SATs, I would be eligible for Division I. But I never took my SATs so I decided to go to junior college. (Lackawanna coach Mark Duda) came to my high school and recruited me. Ever since then, the sky’s been the limit.”

While his senior season has been a disappointment from the standpoint of Penn State’s record, the fact he is even playing for the school resonates for Brisker.

“When I first came here, my vision was to step on Penn State’s field in front of my family and the fans and things like that,” Brisker said. “That was my vision, just to step on the field and to show everybody in my hometown that it’s possible, anything is possible. And I did that.

“There’s still some goals that I haven’t reached yet, but honestly, just being a Nittany Lion is great. I’m thankful.”