In depressing news, Penn State starting safety Jordan Lucas will miss the remainder of the 2015 season due to injury. Unfortunately, this also means that Lucas' Penn State career is over, because it is his senior season. It's an impossibly tough blow for the team, but even tougher for Lucas.
The team captain will end his Penn State career with 181 career tackles, 25 pass breakups, 3 interceptions 3 forced fumbles and 4 sacks (according to College Football Reference). He came into this season as one of the most important players on the Penn State defense, and followed through on that reputation. He was the perfect safety for Bob Shoop's scheme, and was somehow an even more important player during his four years at Penn State than the numbers will ever show.
Jordan Lucas endeared himself to Penn State fans forever, when he became the first player to commit to play under Bill O'Brien. Although at the time, his commitment was met with a litany of comments along the lines of "I guess we should only expect 3-star players from now on". Regardless of how he was perceived back then, Lucas quickly became one of the best and most integral pieces of the Nittany Lion defense.
After bursting onto the scene as a true sophomore (45 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 13 passes defended), he quickly became a man that opposing teams simply didn't target. The stats would suggest a drop-off in play, but really, opposing quarterbacks just didn't throw to his side of the field very often. His presence gave Penn State a true, shutdown cornerback, and in 2015, a dominant, do-it-all safety.
No one deserves to end their college career with an injury, but it hurts a little bit more to see it happen to a guy like Lucas. As one of the first players to stand up and declare that he wanted to be part of the new Penn State, he will forever remain in Nittany Lion hearts.
We wish you all the best in your recovery, Jordan. Get well soon so you can start tearing up the NFL the way we know you will.