Penn State Football: 3 players who deserve game balls from Maryland win

3. Ji’Ayir Brown, Safety

Penn State’s defense has been pretty solid all year, even in the losses. They may give up a lot of yards but the Lions do not give up a lot of points. The secondary is probably the best one James Franklin has had in his tenure in Happy Valley. Safety Ji’Ayir Brown had himself a day against the Terps.

Maryland did throw for the most passing yards any team has against Penn State this year. Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa threw for 371 yards and completed nearly 72 percent of his passes. But it was the Penn State secondary, particularly Brown, having the last laugh.

Brown tied with the team lead with nine tackles, eight of them solo. He also came up with two of the biggest plays in the game. Late in the third quarter, the Nittany Lions were only up eight points and Maryland was driving, getting into the Penn State red zone. A bad snap bounced off Tagovailoa’s leg and rolled. Brown had the awareness to jump on the ball quickly, ending the Terps drive.

Brown’s biggest play of the game occurred late in the game. The Terps pushed again into the Lion red zone, threatening to make it a one-score game. Brown jumped the route of a pass and effectively ended the game.

Penn State’s defense may have bent but they continue to make plays when they have to make plays. Brown had himself quite the game and deserves a game ball.