Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1530530
J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5 9 OPENING SHOT MIGHT AS WELL JUMP Senior Day is a bittersweet occasion for every college sports team — a time to celebrate the ac- complishments of veteran players but also to bid them farewell. Twenty-three seniors were saluted before the Penn State football team faced Maryland on Nov. 30 in its regular-season finale. Coach James Frank- lin greeted the players as they were introduced to the crowd ahead of the game, and he was particu- larly animated when defensive end Smith Vilbert, shown here, stepped onto the field to receive his flowers and soak up his applause. Vilbert, a super senior who arrived at Penn State in 2019 from Monsey, N.Y., had played in only one game in 2022 and missed the '23 season with an injury, but he returned to action this fall, playing in all 12 regular- season games and compiling 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. With Vilbert's defensive line leading the way, the Nittany Lions thrashed the Terrapins, 44-7, at Beaver Stadium. After giving up a touchdown on Maryland's first play from scrimmage, the defense clamped down hard, amassing 6 sacks, 6 tackles for loss and 3 interceptions while holding the Terps to 194 yards of total offense. Senior safety Jaylen Reed was one of the stars for Penn State, finishing with 5 tackles to rank second on the team. Classmate Amin Vanover added an assisted sack, while Vilbert had a pass breakup. The evening's biggest star was junior defensive end Abdul Carter with 2 sacks and a team-high 6 tackles. Carter has a year of eligibility remaining but is considered a high-first-round draft prospect and, like the team's senior honorees, was likely playing his final regular-season game for the Nittany Lions. With so many players saying their goodbyes, Franklin conceded that Senior Day takes an emo- tional toll. "You're with these guys for four, five or even six years," he said. "I'm a coach that loves them hard but also coaches them hard, and I hold them ac- countable. Just to think about some of the journeys I've been on with these guys is a lot, and I'm very proud of them." It's not entirely clear whether Vilbert's college football journey is over. Because he missed nearly two full years of action, Penn State could seek a waiver from the NCAA that would grant him an extra season of eligibility. Entering the postseason, Carter and fellow junior defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton were believed to be mulling whether to leave for the NFL. If they both depart, Penn State would have two sizeable holes to fill at defensive end this coming offseason. Vilbert's return would give the Lions something else to celebrate. — Matt Herb PHOTO BY STEVEN WALTER/PENN STATE ATHLETICS