Blue White Illustrated

The Nittany Lions nished a re- spectable h in the Big Ten in sacks last season, averaging 2.44 per game. But re- spectable isn't really what this defense has been shooting for lately. From 2015 through 2019, the Lions topped 40 sacks each year. That streak ended last season, as Penn State totaled 22 sacks as a team. The 2020 season was obviously not a typical year, but if you were to project the team's sack rate over a full 13-game schedule, you would still only get 31.7. Defensive coordinator Brent Pry has said that Penn State is less willing these days to accept the trade-o/s that come with a go-for-broke pass rush. Even so, the Lions would surely like to be among the Big Ten's sack leaders. To do that this year, they'll need some unproven players to step into much bigger roles. To date, Penn State's returning defensive ends have totaled three sacks between them, all by Isaac. If he's put his injury prob- lems behind him, Tarburton is one to watch. Defensive line coach John Scott Jr. called him "a super smart guy [who] is always in the right spot." Vilbert, too, looks like a potential impact player on a unit that needs to build depth as quickly as possible. "Where he was last year, playing those last games, he's already pushed way past that in my opinion," Scott said. "Smith Vilbert has a high ceiling. He's continu- ing to learn the position of defensive end, but I tell you what, that man is ;ashing." One other interesting option here in- volves senior linebacker Jesse Luketa. In the spring, James Franklin said the sta/ was looking to nd new ways to use the defensive veteran. He's listed at 6-foot- 3, 251 pounds, so it's hardly a stretch to imagine him lining up at defensive end in certain situations. Indeed, if their listed weights are accurate, he's bigger than both Isaac and Ebiketie. At defensive tackle, the Lions have an All-Big Ten performer in Mustipher. He's added about 15 pounds in the o/-season and will slide over to the nose tackle spot, which appears to be a more natural t. The battle for the three-technique spot will likely pit Tangelo against Beamon, with young players such as Ellies, Izzard, Mulbah and Brevard competing for spots in the rotation. Those last two are red- shirt freshmen, but Scott liked what he saw from them in spring practice. "I'm seeing ;ashes out of both of those kids that I didn't see in the fall," he said. "Some things are starting to sink in and you're starting to see these young men trend in the right direction, so I'm ex- cited about these young guys." Penn State nished fourth in the Big Ten against the run last season, allowing 130.2 yards per game. So this is another area in which the defensive front could be char- acterized as good but not great. The Lions will be looking for more in 2021. –M.H. P H I L ' S T A K E Even though Penn State has just one returning starter on its defensive line in P.J. Mustipher, who is switching from the three-technique to the one-tech- nique defensive tackle position, there is reason to believe that this unit can perform at least as well as it did during the 2020 season. Backing up Mustipher are Fred Hansard, Cole Brevard and possibly Dvon Ellies. Moving into the three-technique spot is Duke transfer Derrick Tangelo, while Hakeem Beamon seems set for a possible breakout season. Beamon reminds me of for- mer Penn Stater Kevin Givens, who is now with the San Francisco 49ers. Tan- gelo, who stands 6-foot-2, 307 pounds, can play either defensive tackle position. In the transfer portal, he was the top-rated defensive tackle against the run. That should give Penn State a solid three-man rotation inside. Ellies, Coziah Izzard, Joseph Appiah Darkwa, Aeneas Hawkins, Amin Vanover and Fatorma Mulba will supply depth. At defensive end, Temple transfer Arnold Ebiketie and returnee Adisa Isaac should give Penn State a solid starting duo. Isaac has the potential to have a breakout season. Nick Tarburton, Zuriah Fisher, Blake Mostella, Smith Vilbert and possibly Jesse Luketa will be com- peting for snaps. James Franklin indicated Luketa might be used in a variety of ways this season, not just at linebacker. Defensive end would be a plausible role for him. ■ think we played the run that great. I put that on myself. That was my fault. I was one of the guys in the middle, and I don't think I did my job that well. I have to be better." At the start of the off-season, Mustipher told defensive line coach John Scott Jr. that he wanted to put the weight back on. He was careful to do it in the healthiest way possible, with three or four nutritious meals a day, an occasional protein shake, and long hours in the weight room. The goal was to be force in the middle of the field for the Nittany Lions this fall. "I want the guys next to me and all the guys behind me to know that when there's a running play, the guys in the middle are going to shut that down," Mustipher said. "They can worry about the pass and making plays on the back end. I wanted to be the anchor of that middle and put the confidence in our coaches that when it's a running play, it's going to be shut down by not only myself but those guys next to me in the D-tackle room and the D-ends as well." Scott was happy with what he saw dur- ing spring practice. Mustipher, a former four-star prospect from Owings Mills,

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