STATE COLLEGE — When he hit the ground against Temple on Saturday, Nyeem Wartman-White knew his left knee was toast.

And while the Penn State junior linebacker knows he’ll heal in time for a return next season, he’s not waiting around to make an impact.

Propped up on crutches, his left leg wrapped almost entirely in a bulky blue brace, Wartman-White gathered his young teammates for a long film session on Sunday. On Monday — the team’s off day — he did the same. By Wednesday, teammates estimated Wartman-White had already spent a week’s worth of time analyzing game film with the handful of young linebackers expected to share the snaps Wartman-White would’ve played in the middle of the defense.

“You don’t see that a lot,” senior safety Jordan Lucas said. “He’s taking leadership already in the sense that he wants to make sure guys are prepared for the opportunities that lie ahead for them. He’s a player-coach for us.”

Wartman-White was hurt covering a first-half punt. Linebackers coach Brent Pry is still looking for a suitable combination to replace his star.

Penn State played nine linebackers against Temple. Among them were rookies Jake Cooper and Manny Bowen, whom coach James Franklin planned to redshirt.

“They went right from the scout team to us burning their redshirts and getting them on the field,” Franklin said.

But with Wartman-White’s tutelage, Franklin hopes the entire corps will be better prepared when Penn State plays Buffalo at Beaver Stadium on Saturday. Players like Cooper, Bowen and Troy Reeder won’t have to shoulder the entire load. Instead, Cabinda and junior Gary Wooten are better suited to share it.

Like Cooper and Bowen, Cabinda would’ve redshirted last season but was needed when Wartman-White missed the Northwestern game with an injury. Although Wartman-White returned the next week and was effective the rest of the way, Cabinda emerged as a complimentary defender on the weak side and earned a starting spot there in training camp.

To this point, Cabinda has only played on the outside in games.