Penn State Football: Nyeem Wartman-White ready to lead defense

When Nyeem Wartman-White blocked his first punt, Penn State saw their future leader make his first impact at Linebacker U.Now, Wartman-White begins his senior season as the foundation of a strong Nittany Lions’ defense.

Penn State linebacker Nyeem Wartman-White may not be the player who has come off of three strong seasons heading into his senior year as a college football star. In fact, he’s doing the complete opposite.

He comes into his senior season looking to overcome a career filled with injuries. After blocking the punt in his first college game, Wartman-White went down with his first knee injury. Then, after hoping to have his first major season as a college athlete, Wartman-White had another road bump, suffering his second career knee injury.

That isn’t going to stop him. The fifth-year senior is going to be Penn State’s biggest surprise of 2016, even as an anticipated leader.

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Wartman-White’s best season came in 2014 when he finished with 75 total tackles, and an interception. But it isn’t the stats that make Wartman-White special. His role isn’t to make every play or be involved in every tackle. It’s to lead the defense as they strive for a Big Ten championship.

During an interview with Greg Pickel of Penn Live, Wartman-White explained why he’s a leader within the Penn State defense, even if he didn’t actually say it. What he said was how important winning was, how the team is more important than himself, and how he’d do whatever he needs to do in order for Penn State to succeed.

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“If we can go undefeated, and I come off the bench, that’s more important to me than me having 140 tackles,” Wartman-White told Pickel. “You get a Big Ten championship, that’s way more important … you’ll remember that more than why I wasn’t this or that.”

He understands what he’s there to do and how to do it. Penn State may have a tough road ahead of them before they can hold up a Big Ten Trophy, but Wartman-White is taking the first step.

On the field, Wartman-White is going to be a force as well. If being a preseason Butkus Award runner isn’t enough, then just watch him play.

He may have only played two seasons at Penn State, but he has made his impact felt. What makes him such a force for Penn State is his reaction time. He may not come up with multiple interceptions in a season, but he will be the first player to the ball.

He’s now two years stronger, faster, and aware than the last time he played an entire season. Taking on an injury isn’t something any player wants to do, but it could be beneficial. Developing on the field is the best way to learn and grow as an athlete. But for Wartman-White, he’s used it to become the promising player he is today.

He described his attitude as “jolly” when talking to Megan Ryan of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “People are going to see you, the way you react,” Wartman-White said. “I could have acted like me-against-the-world, like, ‘Yeah, get out of my face.’ … I’m more. I just didn’t want people to see me moping, feeling sorry for myself.”

It’s hard to decide if he’s acting like a class act or if he isn’t. But if you knew Nyeem Wartman-White, you’d know that he’s a leader both on and off the field. A player who can take on any issue and turn it into a learning point.

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He hasn’t had a chance to show the college football world what he’s made of. At least not as the leader of Linebacker U.

This season, Wartman-White is taking on his biggest challenge as an athlete. He will need to overcome everything he’s faced up to his senior season. But it shouldn’t be hard.

As Penn State searches for a Big Ten title, Wartman-White will be the center of the Nittany Lions’ defense. Is he up to the challenge? There’s no question he is.