Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1378330
works his butt off, and he is super, super athletic and super talented. We were very, very fortunate that we were able to beat some other high-level people to get his services." Isaac has a similar makeup, and to this point in his career he's been content to let his work ethic speak for itself. As he con- ceded earlier this spring, "I've not always been the biggest talker." And yet, for Penn State to rebound from last year's disappointing 4-5 finish, the two defensive ends will have to make some noise. Even with a couple of future NFL draftees bookending their defensive front during the 2020 season, the Nit- tany Lions didn't get to the quarterback as frequently as they would have liked, finishing 50th in the Football Bowl Sub- division with an average of 2.44 sacks per game. To improve on that number, the team is going to need ample productivity from a largely unproven defensive end contin- gent. And that, in turn, is going to require the more experienced players to step out of their comfort zone and speak up. Isaac may like to think of himself as a lead-by- example kind of guy, and as one of the younger members of a defensive end group that was blessed with a charismatic leader in Toney, that might have been a perfectly fine way for him to go about his business. But now, with Toney and Oweh off to the NFL and veteran backup Shane Simmons having entered the transfer portal, Isaac is one of the position group's most experienced performers. And with that role has come a new set of responsi- bilities. "At times like this, I have to voice my opinion and help the younger guys," he said. "I'm not a screamer, but when it's time to be vocal I will have to be vocal. It's something I'm trying to improve on, being in this leadership role." Isaac and Toney have stayed in touch since last season, and the 6-foot-4, 244- >> Teammates, coaches see bright future for Tarburton S haka Toney was convinced, weeks ahead of the start of Penn State's 2020 season, that Nick Tarburton's time had come. Speaking to reporters the first week in October, Toney said his fellow defensive end had shown unique perseverance in returning to ac- tion after a 2019 season lost completely to an injury. To the veteran lineman, Tarburton's journey back to the field had demonstrated something about him beyond just his potential as a foot- ball player. "He's always had a positive attitude going through anything he was going through," Toney said. "He never was upset. He's always available emotion- ally if he wasn't available physically. He's a good kid. "And he's been working. Every day, he's out there 25 minutes before prac- tice starts. He's out there 15 to 20 minutes after practice is over. He's very, very hungry to go out there and prove that he belongs there. I have nothing but high praise for Tarbur- ton." As it turned out, the optimism was premature. Tarburton played only 34 total snaps at defensive end last season, with a season-high 13 coming in a loss to Iowa in week five. He finished the year with three quarterback pressures and two tackles. But Tarburton wasn't dissuaded from continuing to work toward his goals, and as he prepares for the 2021 season he's hoping that his efforts will pay off, both for himself and for a Penn State defense that doesn't boast a lot of proven talent at his position group. "Without a doubt, I've had some struggles here," Tarburton said. "Stay- ing healthy and having the time and the ability to just get better – it was tough. It took a toll on me a little bit, but it made me better and stronger. I take that roller coaster as just an advantage. Looking back, I cherish the game so much more than I ever have. Just the ability to play is something special. I'm going to use that to my advantage, and I'm just really looking forward to this season." So, too, are Tarburton's teammates along the defensive line. Although he's played infrequently in his career, seeing action in nine games since arriving on campus in 2018 as a four-star prospect out of Pennridge High in Perkasie, Pa., he has shown this winter and spring that he has the po- tential to be a breakout player for the Nittany Lion defense. Throughout spring drills, he competed for an op- portunity to work himself into the rota- tion at defensive end, maybe even as the starter opposite Adisa Isaac. His performance generated excitement among his fellow linemen. "Tarburton, man, he looks good," de- fensive tackle P.J. Mustipher said. "Starting in the winter, he looked fast, quick. Just seeing where he's come from, everything he's had to deal with, just to be able to bounce back, and him to be out there every day, it's amazing to watch. He's working his butt off and he's getting better every day. It's really fun to watch. He's a good guy, too, so I'm proud of him." Tarburton, who will have redshirt sophomore eligibility this fall, is eager to see those efforts translate into an |