Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1378330
BEGINNING OF THE ENDS With Adisa Isaac and Arnold Ebiketie taking the lead, a revamped defensive end corps is eager to make a big impression on opposing quarterbacks this season | I n an increasingly bombastic world, there's still something to be said for just keeping quiet and letting your actions do the talking for you. That's how Penn State defensive ends Adisa Isaac and Arnold Ebiketie got where they are today, and where they are today is a pretty good place to be. Isaac, a sophomore who is getting ready to begin his third year in the program, and Ebiketie, a redshirt junior who recently transferred to PSU, appear poised to assume starting roles on opposite sides of the Nittany Lions' revamped defensive line this fall. Isaac patiently waited his turn behind two-year starter Shaka Toney and now is in line for a promotion to the first-team defense, his spot having opened up with Toney's graduation and subsequent selection in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. Ebiketie took an even stealthier path to Penn State football stardom: He played his first three seasons at Temple. In the wake of his January arrival, he looks to be a leading contender to fill the team's other DE vacancy, which materialized when Jayson Oweh opted to leave early to enter the draft and was later taken in the first round. It's tempting to say that Isaac and Ebiketie exemplify the age-old ad- monition to speak softly and carry a big stick. But the truth is, they've not yet had a chance to show the kind of damage they can inflict on Big Ten offenses. Neither player has ever started a game against a Power Five opponent. That first part, though? The part about speaking softly? They've got that down cold. Ebiketie is "a quiet guy," defensive line coach John Scott Jr. said re- cently. "You might not hear him say anything. But man, I'll tell you what, he comes to work. He comes to work every day with a smile. He DROP ZONE Isaac finished with 1.5 sacks as a backup to Shaka Toney last season. He said he sees ample room for improvement as he prepares for his first starting season at Penn State. Photo by Steve Manuel - C O V E R S T O R Y