On an already thin defensive unit, Penn State is now losing another veteran starter for the Pinstripe Bowl against Clemson.
Sixth-year senior defensive end Zuriah Fisher is not with the team and will not participate in Saturday’s game, according to On3 and 247Sports. He is still listed on the Penn State roster as of Tuesday afternoon.
Fisher, who has dealt with various injuries in his career, is expected to seek a waiver for a seventh year of eligibility and could transfer to use it.
A native of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, Fisher started all 11 games he played in this year after missing the season opener due to training camp bumps and bruises. He racked up 19 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.
Fisher was second among Penn State players with 30 quarterback pressures this season, according to PFF. He trailed only Dani Dennis-Sutton’s 44.
Fisher missed the bulk or all of the 2022 and 2024 seasons with injuries after enrolling in 2020 as a four-star prospect. He returned to be a productive piece of a middling Penn State defense this season.
“He has a storybook telling. Two ACLs. Mom passed while he was here on campus. The truest of adversity,” interim head coach Terry Smith said this season. “And yet here he is, playing exceptional football for us, overachieving, fighting all the odds, and I’m super proud of him.
“A kid that had that much adversity could easily quit and walk away from the sport. He’s got his degree. I’m probably more proud about that than even the football. I promised his mom that he would get that. He’s just been a great kid, and he’s reaping the reward of hard work.”
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This is the seventh notable departure/loss for Penn State’s defense ahead of the Pinstripe Bowl, joining defensive end Chaz Coleman (transfer), safety Zakee Wheatley (opt out), defensive tackle Zane Durant (opt out), cornerback Elliot Washington II (transfer), cornerback A.J. Harris (transfer) and linebacker Alex Tatsch (injury).
Penn State’s depth at defensive end without Fisher and Coleman will be extremely thin in the bowl game. Redshirt freshmen Mylachi Williams and Jaylen Harvey should be in line for increased roles, as well as freshman Yvan Kemajou.
