(93.7 The Fan) - Clairton's Lamont Wade is gearing up for his senior season at Penn State. It hasn't always been a smooth ride, but safeties coach Tim Banks believes Wade has a lot of great football ahead of him.
"I think he has tremendous upside," Banks said Thursday. "I understand the energy and what makes him tick. I think it's been a pretty good marriage so far, and he's just scratching the surface of how good he can be going into his senior year."
Wade arrived in Happy Valley in 2017 as a five-star recruit. After moving from cornerback to safety following his freshman season, he finally became a starter in 2019. Banks said it took time to get to know one another.
"Lamont is super-smart," Banks said. "He's very motivated and definitely wants to be the best version of himself he can possibly be. Guys like that I naturally click with, in general. To be quite honest, it's been great to see how well he's adapted to learning the position, the total position. He's done a truly good job that way."
There was a time between Wade's sophomore and junior seasons that Banks wondered if Wade would remain a Nittany Lion. He spent time in the transfer portal before opting to return. Now, Banks calls him a team leader.
"All the guys respect him because of his knowledge and work ethic," Banks said. "This will be a big year for him from a leadership perspective. He was a guy who on Saturdays definitely brought all the energy, and the guys would feed off him. This year I expect him to take another step to help the kids prepare throughout the week."
Wade, who turned 21 in January, was tabbed All-Big Ten second team by Pro Football Focus. He tied a Big Ten record with three forced fumbles at Ohio State in November. Banks, who also has the title of co-defensive coordinator, believes Wade's talents will transfer well to the NFL.
"He played on the hash but also showed the ability to play in the slot, which I think is big (for an NFL safety). You need guys that can cover and make tackles, and I think Lamont can do that. His ability to blitz and come off the edge sets him apart from some guys and are traits that will make him attractive at the next level. Someone will be very fortunate to have him."