Another quick little update after talking with a former Penn State player who attended a preseason practice session this week.
The former player told me that he was concerned about the situation at DT with the graduation of Curtis Cothran, Parker Cothren and Tyrell Chavis.
After watching the team practice this week he feels a lot better about the situation at both DT positions.
He really liked the way Rs.So. Antonio Shelton [6-2, 308] is playing at the backup 1-technique DT position behind Rs.Jr. Robert Windsor [6-4, 304], but what even impressed him more was the way Penn State defensive line coach, Sean Spencer, seemed pleased with the progress of Rs.Fr. Fred Hansard [6-3, 318]. He said Penn State now looks to have three solid 1-technique DTs in Windsor, Shelton and Hansard.
The former Penn State player also was impressed by Fr. P.J. Mustipher [6-4, 305]. What he liked the most was the fact he felt Mustipher had the size and power to play the 1-technique DT position and possessed an explosive first step and the lateral quickness to play at the 3-technique DT position.
He said most of the time he watched Mustipher practice he was at the 3-technique DT spot behind Rs.Jr. Kevin Givens [6-1, 287] and Rs.So. Ellison Jordan [6-0, 305]. He also said Jordan appeared to be at or close to 100-percent and that he expected both freshmen DTs Judge Culpepper [6-4, 296] and Aeneas Hawkins [6-2, 291] to see action this fall under the new NCAA rule that allows freshmen to play in four games this fall without losing their redshirt year of eligibility.
The former player told me that he was concerned about the situation at DT with the graduation of Curtis Cothran, Parker Cothren and Tyrell Chavis.
After watching the team practice this week he feels a lot better about the situation at both DT positions.
He really liked the way Rs.So. Antonio Shelton [6-2, 308] is playing at the backup 1-technique DT position behind Rs.Jr. Robert Windsor [6-4, 304], but what even impressed him more was the way Penn State defensive line coach, Sean Spencer, seemed pleased with the progress of Rs.Fr. Fred Hansard [6-3, 318]. He said Penn State now looks to have three solid 1-technique DTs in Windsor, Shelton and Hansard.
The former Penn State player also was impressed by Fr. P.J. Mustipher [6-4, 305]. What he liked the most was the fact he felt Mustipher had the size and power to play the 1-technique DT position and possessed an explosive first step and the lateral quickness to play at the 3-technique DT position.
He said most of the time he watched Mustipher practice he was at the 3-technique DT spot behind Rs.Jr. Kevin Givens [6-1, 287] and Rs.So. Ellison Jordan [6-0, 305]. He also said Jordan appeared to be at or close to 100-percent and that he expected both freshmen DTs Judge Culpepper [6-4, 296] and Aeneas Hawkins [6-2, 291] to see action this fall under the new NCAA rule that allows freshmen to play in four games this fall without losing their redshirt year of eligibility.
