MADISON, Wis. — Jaquan Brisker spent most of the second quarter Saturday afternoon sitting behind the Penn State bench on the exercise bike telling himself to breathe. He was in and out of the action against Wisconsin as he dealt with cramps and other bumps and bruises during a physical afternoon at Camp Randall Stadium.
Brisker wanted to be on the field with his Nittany Lions teammates in the tightly fought Big Ten battle, but he knew he wasn’t physically ready to go back in. The training staff helped keep him hydrated, and he kept his legs moving on the bike. But most importantly, Brisker needed to control his breathing to help himself relax and keep his head in the game.
And when Penn State needed Brisker most, the fifth-year senior safety delivered. Late in the fourth quarter with the Nittany Lions clinging to a six-point lead, Brisker read Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz’s eyes and baited him into throwing to tight end Jake Ferguson in the middle. Brisker jumped the route, secured the ball near the goal line and took off through a mess of bodies.
Brisker entered the 2021 season with the most hype of any Penn State player. The Associated Press named him a second-team All-American. His name dots a variety of award and trophy watch lists for defensive players. In the 16-10 Penn State win over Wisconsin, Brisker showed exactly why.
“I just kept breathing, and I knew I was going to go out there at some point, but it just wasn’t the right time,” Brisker said in the Camp Randall Stadium end zone near where he made his interception. “Once it came time, I just had to make a play for my team.”
Through the early part of the game, Brisker shuttled between the field, the medical tent and the exercise bike. Brisker left the game with trainers at least three times after he was involved in collisions on the field. At one point, Penn State lost both Brisker and defensive end Arnold Ebiketie, another big-time playmaker Saturday, on the same play.
Even fellow safety Ji’Ayir Brown left the game after he was shaken up, and he returned to intercept Mertz as time expired.
But each time, Brisker found his way back onto the field. His teammates took note, too.
“It’s a testament to who he is as a football player,” defensive tackle PJ Mustipher said. “He did a phenomenal job. He battled through injuries, but he got a pick, and that’s the type of player Brizzy is. He’s an All-American, stuff like that, and he came out here today and proved it.”
Brisker came to Penn State in 2019 as a junior college transfer from Lackawanna College. He was only supposed to stay at Penn State for two seasons, but the combination of last year’s 4-5 season and the NCAA’s waiver allowing players to take an extra year of eligibility provided Brisker with the opportunity to come back. He didn’t want to leave State College on that note.
So far, Brisker has made good on the intentions for his return, and the program voted him as one of Penn State’s six captains this season.
“When Brisker came down with that pick, that’s what Brizzy does,” said linebacker Ellis Brooks, who was ejected for targeting earlier on Wisconsin’s drive. “He’s set up to have a great year. He’s going to have an amazing year. He’s a hell of a ball player. Great instincts, just a leader.”
Saturday’s matchup was a rough-and-tumble Big Ten tilt. After a scoreless first half, the two teams exchanged blows on the scoreboard and both physically on the field in the second half.
Brisker, in particular, appeared to be the recipient of plenty of them. But each time he couldn’t get up, he ultimately did.
“I couldn’t let my teammates down. They’re depending on me, especially being a leader and a captain of this team. I couldn’t go down, especially my ‘why,’ my [late] brother [Tale’] and my family and things like that. I couldn’t let them down.”
Penn State entered the 2021 season seeking a bounce back campaign after a disappointing 2020. Brisker, though, enjoyed a breakout individual campaign and added an assortment of All-Big Ten and All-American honors to his resume. But the team’s performance ate at him. He couldn’t leave Penn State on that note.
So he came back and put off a shot at the NFL for another year. It’s a risk for any player. But Brisker took it. So far, it’s paying off, and his teammates have taken notice.
“It just shows his character and who he is,” safety Jonathan Sutherland said. “He’ll do whatever he can to come and play on this field and help us get a victory. It’s a testament to who he is and his work ethic.”
Daniel Gallen covers Penn State for PennLive. He can be reached at dgallen@pennlive.com. You can follow him on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Follow PennLive’s Penn State coverage on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
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Jaquan Brisker guts it out to help seal Penn State’s win over Wisconsin - PennLive
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