During a season with few easily digestible national statistics, Penn State’s defense found itself confronting an unusual reality.
Finishing the year with 2.44 sacks per outing, the Nittany Lions finished 50th nationally in the category and fifth among its Big Ten competitors. Led by Shaka Toney’s five sacks, Penn State finished with 22 for the nine-game season at an average of 2.44 per game, down dramatically from the 3.46 that had marked the season prior and placed the program seventh nationally.
Will the Nittany Lions return to form this season in a statistical sense?
BWI surveyed the program this offseason for a better grip on where the defensive line stands as the start of preseason camp quickly approaches:
Defensive line:
The two biggest storylines of the offseason in the trenches for Penn State’s defense have centered on the additions of Arnold Ebiketie at defensive end and tackle Derrick Tangelo, transfers each from Temple and Duke over the winter, respectively. Their impacts felt immediately given the immediacy of the need to add some maturity and experience along the defensive line, the plays through the transfer portal have paid off.
The second, but a maybe more buzz-worthy, story of the offseason on Penn State’s defensive line has been that of Nick Tarburton’s emergence. Finally shedding some of the injury concerns that have hampered his career with the Nittany Lions thus far, the redshirt sophomore has performed to a level that has the program excited about his possibilities for the 2021 season.
Meeting with the media Thursday afternoon in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Media Days at Lucas Oil Stadium, Penn State’s contingent of players and head coach James Franklin put words to that behind-the-scenes budding anticipation for Tarburton.
“Nick Tarburton, he’s gotten a lot of buzz this offseason and deservedly so,” senior defensive tackle P.J. Mustipher said. “He’s battled through injury, but after seeing him the entire offseason, he’s really put together a great offseason I know he’s ready to have a great camp and a great season. I don’t think many people are talking about him.”
Consider this a prelude to the series of Nick Tarburton stories that are going to appear in this space and elsewhere in the coming weeks and months.
Whether or not it’s enough to displace presumptive starters Ebiketie and Adisa Isaac on the ends, the bottom line here is that Tarburton brings maturity, consistency, toughness, and an overall aura needed from that group. If he can stay healthy, Tarburton is going to play a lot of football for Penn State this season.
The other under-the-radar theme this offseason regarding Penn State’s defensive line ties in, though.
With Tarburton bringing toughness, maturity, consistency, and leadership to the group, and that it’s all needed in the room, the counterpoint is that less is known about the consistency Penn State has in the players vying to step into bigger roles this season.
On one hand, boasting some exciting talent waiting in the wings, it’s also youthful, less established, and as we’ve come to understand, in need of some fast seasoning. Call it growing up, if you will, but with so much of the roster backloaded in the sophomore and freshman classes at both end and DT (13 of 20), Penn State needs some current unknowns to take those strides in the coming weeks and months.
That means Zuriah Fisher at end. That means Smith Vilbert. That means Amin Vanover or Coziah Izzard at DT.
The last note here as preseason practice nears is that the Jesse Luketa to defensive end narrative is shaping up as more of a hybrid role. Penn State has confidence in Ellis Brooks at the Mike, but Luketa is going to have an opportunity to battle for the starting job there and, regardless, is going to see time as a middle linebacker this season. However, when Ellis is in the game, Luketa then has the ability to provide something of a different look as an end who can drop into coverage, play the run or rush the passer.
Finishing the year with 2.44 sacks per outing, the Nittany Lions finished 50th nationally in the category and fifth among its Big Ten competitors. Led by Shaka Toney’s five sacks, Penn State finished with 22 for the nine-game season at an average of 2.44 per game, down dramatically from the 3.46 that had marked the season prior and placed the program seventh nationally.
Will the Nittany Lions return to form this season in a statistical sense?
BWI surveyed the program this offseason for a better grip on where the defensive line stands as the start of preseason camp quickly approaches:
Defensive line:
The two biggest storylines of the offseason in the trenches for Penn State’s defense have centered on the additions of Arnold Ebiketie at defensive end and tackle Derrick Tangelo, transfers each from Temple and Duke over the winter, respectively. Their impacts felt immediately given the immediacy of the need to add some maturity and experience along the defensive line, the plays through the transfer portal have paid off.
The second, but a maybe more buzz-worthy, story of the offseason on Penn State’s defensive line has been that of Nick Tarburton’s emergence. Finally shedding some of the injury concerns that have hampered his career with the Nittany Lions thus far, the redshirt sophomore has performed to a level that has the program excited about his possibilities for the 2021 season.
Meeting with the media Thursday afternoon in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Media Days at Lucas Oil Stadium, Penn State’s contingent of players and head coach James Franklin put words to that behind-the-scenes budding anticipation for Tarburton.
“Nick Tarburton, he’s gotten a lot of buzz this offseason and deservedly so,” senior defensive tackle P.J. Mustipher said. “He’s battled through injury, but after seeing him the entire offseason, he’s really put together a great offseason I know he’s ready to have a great camp and a great season. I don’t think many people are talking about him.”
Consider this a prelude to the series of Nick Tarburton stories that are going to appear in this space and elsewhere in the coming weeks and months.
Whether or not it’s enough to displace presumptive starters Ebiketie and Adisa Isaac on the ends, the bottom line here is that Tarburton brings maturity, consistency, toughness, and an overall aura needed from that group. If he can stay healthy, Tarburton is going to play a lot of football for Penn State this season.
The other under-the-radar theme this offseason regarding Penn State’s defensive line ties in, though.
With Tarburton bringing toughness, maturity, consistency, and leadership to the group, and that it’s all needed in the room, the counterpoint is that less is known about the consistency Penn State has in the players vying to step into bigger roles this season.
On one hand, boasting some exciting talent waiting in the wings, it’s also youthful, less established, and as we’ve come to understand, in need of some fast seasoning. Call it growing up, if you will, but with so much of the roster backloaded in the sophomore and freshman classes at both end and DT (13 of 20), Penn State needs some current unknowns to take those strides in the coming weeks and months.
That means Zuriah Fisher at end. That means Smith Vilbert. That means Amin Vanover or Coziah Izzard at DT.
The last note here as preseason practice nears is that the Jesse Luketa to defensive end narrative is shaping up as more of a hybrid role. Penn State has confidence in Ellis Brooks at the Mike, but Luketa is going to have an opportunity to battle for the starting job there and, regardless, is going to see time as a middle linebacker this season. However, when Ellis is in the game, Luketa then has the ability to provide something of a different look as an end who can drop into coverage, play the run or rush the passer.
