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Safeties coach Tim Banks pleased with direction of Ayron Monroe

When Penn State’s first official depth chart was released Tuesday and it became clear that Troy Apke won the starting job at strong safety, it wasn’t a total shock. James Franklin lauded the senior at the start and end of fall camp.

Still — back in spring and throughout the summer — some believed athletic redshirt sophomore Ayron Monroe would win the job.

Regardless, Penn State safeties coach Tim Banks said Thursday he is still proud of Monroe. He gave the position battle all he could.

“It just so happens that he got in a dogfight with another young man who’s taken some steps forward, as well, in Troy Apke,” Banks said on a morning conference call.