Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1462941
A P R I L 2 0 2 2 2 9 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 2 PJ Mustipher DT | Sr.+ | 6-4 | 329 Mustipher's start to the 2021 sea- son was so impressive that the Big Ten coaches rewarded him with a second- team all-conference nod even though he missed Penn State's final seven games after suffering an injury. Mustipher's recovery is going to be one of the storylines of the offseason, and with good reason. If he can return to his pre-injury form, he will give the Nittany Lions a massive run-stopping presence in the middle of their defense. His role as a leader on this team shouldn't be over- looked, either. 3 Ji'Ayir Brown S | Sr.+ | 5-11 | 204 With Jaquan Brisker moving on, Brown will be asked to become the anchor of the Penn State secondary as the Nittany Lions sort out who will start alongside him. Crucially, Brown injected some big- play ability into Penn State's defense last season — something the unit missed in 2020. Brown finished the year tied for the FBS lead with six interceptions, returning one for a touchdown at Maryland. That's a stat that can vary considerably from year to year, but Penn State needs Brown to continue generating takeaways in 2022. 4 Curtis Jacobs OLB | Jr. | 6-1 | 227 The lone returnee among Penn State's linebackers, Jacobs is going to have plenty of weight on his shoulders this season as the Nittany Lions integrate two new starters. That alone makes him extremely important. He should be in line for a jump in production, too, enter- ing his second season as a starter and his third season on campus. Jacobs con- cluded the 2021 season with 61 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks and an interception on his ledger. 5 Mitchell Tinsley WR | Sr.+ | 6-1 | 203 One of two big transfer additions for the Nittany Lions, Tinsley should be a leading figure in Penn State's wide re- ceivers room as the Lions adjust to an offense without Jahan Dotson. Crucially, Tinsley showcased an ability to make ex- plosive plays during his time at Western Kentucky — something Penn State really needs. Tinsley averaged 16.1 yards per reception last season, racking up 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns through the air. 6 Caedan Wallace OT | R-Jr. | 6-5 | 319 The Nittany Lions need Wallace to improve on last season's showing if the offensive line is going to take the neces- sary steps forward. Wallace, who came to Penn State as the No. 56 overall recruit nation- ally, struggled in his second season as a starter. Pro Football Focus gave him a 56.4 pass-block grade and a 49.2 run- block grade last season. He's certainly capable of playing at a much higher level, and Penn State will need that in 2022. 7 Adisa Isaac DE | R-Jr. | 6-4 | 244 After the departure of Arnold Ebiketie for the pros, the Nittany Lions are left without a proven pass rusher on their roster. Isaac seems most likely to grow into that role, making him a hugely im- portant player for Penn State. A top-150 recruit in the Class of 2019, Isaac did not play last season after suf- fering an injury before the year got un- derway. It remains to be seen what his availability will be this spring. 8 Parker Washington WR | Jr. | 5-10 | 212 Washington's showing in the Outback Bowl should help some Penn State fans feel slightly better about life without Ja- han Dotson. With Dotson sitting out, Washington caught seven passes for 98 yards in that game, including a ridicu- lous one-handed grab. For the season, he finished with 64 receptions for 820 yards and four touchdowns. The Nittany Lions added Tinsley in the transfer portal, and it will be inter- esting to see which of these two players emerges as Clifford's top target. Junior wideout Parker Washington shined for Penn State in the Outback Bowl, catching seven passes for 98 yards. He'll be one of Sean Clifford's primary targets in the fall. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL