Penn State football snapshot profile: No. 13 Cristian Driver
Going into the 2022 football season, Nittany Lions Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Penn State roster.
Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for James Franklin this season.
Next up is safety Cristian Driver, son of legendary Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver. The Nittany Lions have a young and unproven safety room, but there is still a ton of potential in the group.
After Ji'Ayir Brown and Keaton Ellis depart for the NFL following the 2022 season, Driver is a player that has all the tangibles to be a future starter for Penn State as the next man up.
Preseason Player Profile
Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images
Hometown: Argyle, TX
Height: 5′-11″
Weight: 185 lbs.
247 Sports Composite Ranking
[4-star] | [No. 18 safety in the nation] [No.36 player in the state of Texas]
For more Penn State football recruiting coverage, check out our recruiting page.
High School Athletic Career
Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
In high school, Driver played on both offense and defense as a receiver safety. He joins Penn State as a safety, a room that is full of unproven talent outside of Ji’Ayir Brown and Keaton Ellis.
In high school, Driver was a two-sport athlete, competing in both football and track and field. His speed certainly did not go unnoticed.
Driver is a player that excels at stopping the run with his speed and physicality. He has room to grow, but his talent should translate well at the next level.
Recruiting Announcement
COMMITTED #WeAre pic.twitter.com/6GiXtKpVo3
— Cris (@CristianDriver_) July 29, 2021
Depth Chart Overview
Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
Driver’s athleticism and versatility stand out for him as a recruit. He likely will be a key depth piece for his first season at Penn State.
However, there is a strong possibility he could see much more playing time in his second year, with Ji’Ayir Brown (pictured, above) and Keaton Ellis both in their last seasons with the Nittany Lions.
Driver’s versatility could get him to see the field early on special teams, which would a perfect opportunity for him to compete for more playing time with the underclassmen. Outside of Brown and Ellis, the majority of the safeties on the Nittany Lions are all underclassmen, giving Driver a solid opportunity to compete for a second or third-string spot.
