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The message has been sent to Koa Farmer.
For Penn State’s defense to rebound from the loss of eight starters, the senior linebacker is going to have to break through as both a player and a leader.
”I’d say the biggest thing with Koa is — this is his year,” Nittany Lions coach James Franklin said midway through the team’s second week of spring practice. “… He’s one of the guys that’s going to test really well when that time comes. But he’s gotta play like it.
“At this point, he hasn’t really played up to his speed. And I think that’s what this spring and this summer will allow him to do.”
In what looks to be a major transition year for the group at Linebacker U, it’s Farmer who inherits much of the responsibility as a fifth-year senior.
Not just to make plays as a returning starter at the strong-side (Sam) position, but to mentor a unit that has the least amount of experience on the roster. That includes three true freshmen who enrolled early for the spring semester — Micah Parsons, Jesse Luketa and Nick Tarburton.
Not an easy task for someone who hadn’t played linebacker before he came to Penn State. A running back and safety at Notre Dame High School outside of Los Angeles, Farmer bounced between safety and linebacker in his first two years in Happy Valley.
”So he’s still learning but growing,” Franklin said. “Excited about what he’s going to be able to do.”
Farmer said he understands well what’s being asked of him to get ready for the 2018 season.
And apart from learning as much as he can about the middle (Mike) and weak-side (Will) linebacker spots to help his knowledge of the defense, he says his most important job this offseason is to set an example.
“Just being more of a leader,” Farmer said in a video published by Penn State. “We had Jason (Cabinda), we had Marcus (Allen), we had Grant (Haley) — they were probably the leaders of our defense last year. Now those guys are done, and it’s my turn.
“Be more vocal. Getting the energy up at practice. I can’t keep to myself at practice — I gotta get everyone else involved. Even get the offense involved. Make it more competitive at practice. Anything I can do vocally rather than just leading by example.”
Farmer has worked at both Sam and Will so far this spring, though the former spot is where he’ll most likely be in the fall. With Cabinda, Brandon Smith and Manny Bowen all gone, the other two spots are very much up for grabs.
Cam Brown worked at Will much of last year, giving him a leg up to start heading into his junior year. But, as with Farmer, there’s still work to be done.
”I think (Farmer) and Cam Brown can have significant roles for us on the edge,” Franklin said. “Two guys that have played a lot of football for us, but it’s time for them to take that next step from being good backups to being good starters or dominant starters.”
Jake Cooper, Jan Johnson and redshirt freshman Ellis Brooks are returning players who are candidates in the middle. Jarvis Miller is another former safety who has backed up Farmer at Sam.
But there’s plenty of interest in the three new guys, who are getting their first taste of college ball. Franklin cautioned, though, that it’s tough to draw many conclusions after only a few practices.
”It’s too early at this point,” Franklin said. “I will say that it’s obvious when you’re comparing guys like the three freshmen that just got in here and Ellis. Ellis has been here. He’s played a lot of football at that position, where it just comes natural to him, where Micah’s a great athlete, but he’s still figuring it out.”
Parsons comes in as the nation’s No. 5 overall recruit in the 2018 class. But the five-star prospect played defensive end at Harrisburg High and will need time to learn a new position.
Luketa and Tarburton were both four-star recruits in Pennsylvania, with Luketa coming down from his native Canada to play at Mercyhurst Prep in Erie and Tarburton hailing from Pennridge High outside of Philadelphia.
“Jesse moves really well and he’s played the position for a couple of years,” Franklin said. “He’s got an interesting progression. If you track Jesse’s career, he started as a corner … and then moved to safety. And then moved from safety to linebacker. And every time I tell the story, Jesse goes, ‘And stop right there, coach.’ He moves really well.
“Tarburton’s lost a bunch of weight, body fat, and he’s moving better. So they’re three young, exciting prospects. But it’s good to see Ellis out here getting some work as well. And then we got all those guys developing, waiting for their time. The Jan Johnsons and the Coops and the guys like that.”
Farmer said he’s been impressed with the early returns from the freshmen and noted with a grin that Luketa bears a striking resemblance to Cabinda in pads while wearing his old No. 40.
“Nick — very physical. Smart, too,” Farmer said. “Jesse, very smart. And Micah’s just a freak. He’s an animal. He’s 242 and running pretty fast. Especially because he’s played D-end his whole life. So seeing him at linebacker, he looks good.
“All of those guys, I’d say they’re ahead of the curve, I think. Surprisingly, they’re picking up the defense. They’re all pretty smart, and they’re getting better each and every day in spring ball.”
