Penn State announced on Apr. 7 that its football program has welcomed seven new safeties and a new position coach, Deon Broomfield, ahead of the upcoming season.
The addition of fresh talent and leadership is expected to shape the safety group as they prepare for spring practice. The university said this presents an opportunity for players to build chemistry within their unit and adapt to the coaching system.
Broomfield joins Penn State after five seasons as defensive backs coach under head coach Matt Campbell at Iowa State. He brings with him three experienced players from Iowa State: redshirt senior Jeremiah Cooper, junior Marcus Neal Jr., and senior Jamison Patton. Cooper was recognized as Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year during his first year, earned First Team All-Big 12 honors as a sophomore, and received another honorable mention in his junior year before an injury cut short his senior season.
Neal Jr., who started every game last season at Iowa State, also joins Penn State along with Patton. The Nittany Lions have also added two transfer safeties: Omarion Davis from Boston College and Ibn McDaniels from Syracuse. Returning to the team are redshirt sophomore Vaboue Toure and incoming freshmen Christian Askew and Bryson Williams.
Coach Broomfield has chosen a different approach in building connections among this diverse group of players, aiming to help them bond into one cohesive unit. “With seven new players joining the safeties room, it creates the opportunity for players to grow together and bond into one cohesive unit, something that Coach Broomfield is excited to see,” according to Penn State’s announcement.
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