Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1505736
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3 2 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M son, he will play a pivotal role in the defense's overall performance in 2023. He's put in the work. Now, it's his time to shine. "I feel like I'm in a great spot," Isaac said. "I feel like I'm very close to 100 percent — the best I've felt so far. "That second year out from the in- jury is definitely going to give me the extra edge I was looking for. I've put on some extra size and I'm really feeling very mobile and explosive like I want to. It's definitely helped." Penn State head coach James Franklin said he feels like "a proud father" when he looks at the progress Isaac has made during his four years in State College. "He showed up and just thrived," Franklin said. "He has an unbelievable mom and siblings that mean a ton to him. He's killing it in school. "He's gotten bigger and stronger. I think it's really important for him and for us that he plays over 250 pounds this year. I think he's going to have a big year." The Penn State defense will need all of its edge rushers to thrive if it's going reach its potential this fall. Isaac knows that. It's why he and his teammates packed on the pounds this offseason to make a big push in preseason camp and then the fall. They all know what's at stake. By boosting their own stock for the future, they can lift the Nittany Lions to new heights, too. They will have every opportunity to do so, starting with the opener at West Virginia. Fireworks will dance over Beaver Sta- dium before kickoff. And when the PSU defense takes the field, expect Isaac to create some fireworks of his own as he begins what should be his best season yet. ■ For the second year in a row, Penn State will be without defensive end Smith Vilbert. A program spokesperson confirmed to BWI in early August that the redshirt senior will be forced to miss the upcoming season. The news that Vilbert had been injured was first reported by The Athletic. Vilbert missed the 2022 regular season for undisclosed reasons. He did play in the Rose Bowl, seeing action on five snaps against Utah without recording any statistics, but that was the extent of his playing time last year. The recent setbacks have stalled the momen- tum that seemed to be building after Vilbert en- joyed a breakout performance against Arkansas in the Outback Bowl to conclude the 2021 sea- son. Making his first career start, the 6-foot-6, 275-pound defensive end finished with 3 sacks against the Razorbacks, setting a Penn State bowl record. Prior to that game, he had made just 3.5 tackles in his career. A native of Monsey, N.Y., Vilbert has played in only 16 games since coming to Penn State as a consensus three-star prospect out of Saint Joseph Regional High in New Jersey. He shared Developmental Squad Defensive Player of the Year honors from the coaching staff as a true freshman. Even without Vilbert, the Lions appear strong at defensive end, with projected starters Adisa Isaac and Chop Robinson both earning All-Big Ten honors last season and sophomore Dani Dennis-Sutton set to play a much bigger role in his second year in the program. Vilbert's absence will likely translate into more snaps for juniors Zuriah Fisher and Amin Vanover. Said defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, "We're blessed to have lots of guys who can create havoc." — Greg Pickel Vilbert set a Penn State bowl record when he finished with 3 sacks against Arkansas in the Outback Bowl to cap the 2021 season. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL Smith Vilbert To Miss 2023 Season With Injury