You may think Penn State’s dilemma along its defensive line is a lack of game experience.
But there’s another problem. At least for the uninitiated:
At defensive tackle, how do you tell one (Curtis) Cothran from the other (Parker) Cothren?
Both, after all, play the same position, are roughly the same size and are both seniors in the classroom with junior eligibility.
It’s an important question, too, given the departure of defensive tackles Anthony Zettel and Austin Johnson to the NFL, leaving Nittany Lion D-end Garrett Sickels as the only Nittany Lion defensive lineman with any starting experience (12, all in 2015).
We’re likely to hear the name Cothra(e)n often this season. So it’s important to know which one is which.
There are some obvious differences. You can find many of them on page 82 of the “2016 Penn State Football Yearbook” – aka, the team media guide, the entire page which is devoted entirely to the Cothra(e)ns. Curtis wears No. 52 and is a bit taller at 6-foot-5 and 280 pounds. Parker is No. 41, stands 6-4 and weighs 290. Curtis was a DE last season; Parker saw considerable playing time at DT.
Both are strong and agile athletes, but grew up about 864 miles apart. Parker is older by 397 days, having been born on Jan. 23, 1994. (Curtis arrived on Feb. 24, 1995.) Curtis is from Newtown, Pa., where he was also a standout track and field athlete at Council Rock North High School, running the 100 and 200 meters, as well as throwing the discus and shot. Parker is from Huntsville, Ala., where he was a three-year letterman in basketball at Hazel Green High School.
Both sat out the 2013 season as true freshmen, then Parker stood out much more in 2014. He made the Big Ten All-Freshmen team and Academic All-Big Ten while appearing in all 13 games. Curtis played in just one game in 2014. Both played in all 13 games in 2015; Parker made 16 tackles (5 unassisted, 11 assists) and Parker made 13 (4 and 9).
And both are expected to play big roles in 2016.
As they enter their fourth season together, on the field and even in a shared classroom or two off of it, the two know each other better than almost anyone else. We put that inside (the defensive line) info to the test during media day last week, when we pulled the two Cothra(e)ns aside and polled each one on the other Cothra(en).
That fun exchange follows, which is succeeded by some succinct sizing up from linebacker Jason Cabinda, who spends his days on the gridiron literally looking at the backsides of Parker and Curtis.
But before we begin, you need to know this as well: They’re not related.
Question: The other Cothra(e)n is:
Curtis: “Very skilled at a lot of different things.”
Parker: “Not that handsome.”
Question: How do I tell the Cothra(e)ns apart?
Curtis: “One is with an ‘e’ and the other is with an ‘a.’”
Parker: “Just look for the better-looking one. Me.”
Question: The other Cothra(e)n is good at:
Curtis: “There’s one trick Parker can do. He can spin square things on his finger, but he can’t spin circular things.”
Parker: “Curtis is good at lifting weights.”
Question: What are you most looking forward to this season?
Curtis: “The competition.”
Parker: “Just getting out there with our team and winning games.”
Question: What is that people don’t know about Penn State’s defensive line for 2016?
Curtis: “A lot of people expect there to be a drop-off. But I don’t think there will be.”
Parker: “That’s what I say.”
Question: What’s your major and what do you want to do after football?
Curtis: “Criminology. Some type of law enforcement, maybe a police officer.”
Parker: “Recreation, Parks and Tourism Management. I want to be a fire-fighter.”
THE FINAL WORD
And here’s how Jason Cabinda, a junior linebacker for the Nittany Lions, tells the two defensive tackles apart:
“Good question,” Cabinda told me. (Thanks.)
“Neither of them goes by Cothra(e)n. It’s Parker and Curt. And Curt’s a big black dude and Parker is this big freakin’ white guy.”
