Antoine Belgrave-Shorter, who led Penn State’s training camp in turnovers, has earned a starting job at safety, coach James Franklin said Monday.
The 6-0, 200-pound Belgrave-Shorter will play alongside fifth-year senior Zakee Wheatley, who started every game last season, when the second-ranked Nittany Lions open against Nevada at 3:30 Saturday (TV-CBS) at Beaver Stadium.
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Belgrave-Shorter was a three-star prospect from Mandarin High School in Jacksonville, Fla., and played in seven games as a reserve last season when he was a true freshman.
“There probably weren’t a lot of conversations going on about Belgrave-Shorter outside the Lasch Building,” Franklin said. “He led us in interceptions and turnovers in training camp. He’s been very, very consistent about how he’s gone about his business. He has earned that spot.”
Dejuan Lane, a 6-2, 212-pound sophomore, was thought to be the leading candidate to win the job opposite Wheatley.
But Lane and cornerback Kenny Woseley Jr. were charged by Penn State Police earlier this month with possessing drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, and disorderly conduct for creating a “hazardous or physically offensive condition,” a summary offense.
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Lane and Woseley have preliminary hearings scheduled for Wednesday in Centre County Court.
Lane played in every game last season, made 14 tackles, broke up three passes and intercepted another.
He and King Mack, who transferred back to Penn State from Alabama, are expected to be the backup safeties.
“We feel like we have four safeties we can win with,” Franklin said. “The other two guys will play a lot. We’ll need them to play a lot.”
No surprise: Kyron Hudson, Trebor Pena and Devonte Ross will be the starting wide receivers, as expected.
All three transferred to Penn State after last season, Hudson from USC, Pena from Syracuse and Ross from Troy.
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Franklin said Ross will alternate with fifth-year senior Liam Clifford; freshman Koby Howard will back up Hudson; and redshirt freshman Tyseer Denmark will play behind Pena.
Ross “had some bumps and bruises” that slowed him in the summer and during the first couple weeks of camp.
“He’s ready to go,” Franklin said. “We’ll probably rotate him (with Clifford). He’s looked really good the last week or so. We’re expecting good things from him.”
Green dots: Amare Campbell or Dominic DeLuca will wear the green dot on their helmet to receive the defensive signals from coordinator Jim Knowles, Franklin said.
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Campbell, who transferred from North Carolina, and DeLuca will split time at middle linebacker and receive communication from Knowles. DeLuca, a former Wyoming Area star, also will play on the weak side.
Each team is allowed only one player on the field to receive communication from the sideline or press box.
“One of those two guys will be on the field,” Franklin said. “It will be a little bit of a challenge because we think DeLuca can also be the Will. How do we make sure we don’t have two green dots on the field? That’s a little of the gymnastics we have to do to make sure we don’t get a silly penalty.”
Green lights: At least two freshmen will see significant playing time this season and will not be redshirted, Franklin said.
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Defensive end Chaz Coleman and cornerback Daryus Dixson have been impressive since their arrival in State College.
The 6-4, 240-pound Coleman was rated a four-star prospect coming out of Warren G. Harding High School in Ohio. The 6-0, 191-pound Dixson also was rated a four-star prospect coming out of Mater Dei High School in suburban Los Angeles.
“They’re two guys who have been very, very consistent physically, mentally and emotionally,” Franklin said. “We have some (other) guys who I think could play for us this year physically but they’ve shown too much immaturity or have had too many missed assignments and mistakes.”
