The early signing period for football prospects in the Class of 2020 is upon us, and Penn State is expected to bring in a larger-than-usual class throughout the day. On the Penn State blog today, I’ll be breaking down each of the signees. Here is my scouting report on the second player from Lackawanna College’s historic 2019 team to sign with the Nittany Lions, safety Ji’Ayir Brown.
Penn State DB prospect and former Lackawanna College star Ji’Ayir Brown. PHOTO BY PENN STATE ATHLETICS
Height: 6-0
Weight: 205
School: Lackawanna College
Projected position: Safety
Rating: Three stars by Rivals.com and 247sports
Other offers: Kent State
Projection: Penn State covets defensive backs who could potentially play receiver. Well, Brown could potentially play receiver or running back. He’s a skilled athlete who knows the game and senses things well. In the NJCAA national championship game on Dec. 5, he made several stops in the running game from the opposite side of the field, reading misdirection well. He plays downhill against the run and isn’t afraid to bring a big hit. He’s a good-enough runner, and his instincts help him play a bit faster than he is. Brown is a polished player who could compete for Garret Taylor’s vacated starting job in the spring. At the very least, he’s a player who will make a significant impact on special teams in the near term.
Donnie Collins has been a member of The Times-Tribune sports staff for nearly 20 years and has been the Penn State football beat writer for Times-Shamrock Newspapers since 2004. The Penn State Football Blog covers Nittany Lions, Big Ten and big-time college football news from Beaver Stadium to the practice field, the bowl game to National Letter of Intent Signing Day. Contact: dcollins@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5368; @DonnieCollinsTT