Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1509432
N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 3 2 5 Boasting a potent combination of returning standouts and rising stars, Penn State's defensive line has been a not-so-quiet storm this fall NAT E BAU E R | N A T E . B A U E R @ O N 3 . C O M High Pressure System A second-quarter tackle at North- western probably won't make the season highlight reel for Penn State this year. Nittany Lion defensive coordinator Manny Diaz is likely to remember it any- way. PSU was trailing the Wildcats at Ryan Field on Sept. 30, and little had gone well for the visitors' offense. Nicholas Single- ton had fumbled the opening kickoff to gift Northwestern its first three points, and midway through the second quarter, Wildcats quarterback Ben Bryant had en- gineered a 10-play, 59-yard touchdown drive, raising hopes in Evanston that an upset was brewing. Trailing 10-3 at the time, Penn State seemed to have no answers, and its pre- dicament only grew more acute when it was forced to punt from deep in its own territory with just over five minutes to play before halftime. "That's not really going according to plan," Diaz said. Following the offense's three-and-out, Diaz gathered his players on the sideline before they took the field again. He didn't see any concern or hesitation in them, even though the game wasn't following the script that many had foreseen with the unbeaten Nittany Lions facing the 2-2 Wildcats. Instead, they were excited for the next opportunity to perform together and execute. A few moments later, they produced Diaz's favorite play of the afternoon. "Before we took the field on defense, they were in a great headspace. They were ready to go have fun and play," Diaz said. "Then the first play of that drive was when Zane Durant, Dvon Ellies, and like seven other guys hit the running back in the backfield for a big tackle for loss. You could just see the spirit and the fun we were playing with. "I think we're seeing a little more of the 11 guys becoming one in that unit. Ev- ery year, you've got to sort of piece those pieces together. I think we've really grown as to who we are as a unit in these last three weeks." Creating Mismatches The performance of Penn State's de- fensive front has been one of the biggest