Penn State’s young DL making strides, position coach says

STATE COLLEGE — The Penn State defensive line faced a large void, both on the field and off, when 6-foot-4, 326-pound defensive tackle PJ Mustipher suffered a season-ending injury a month ago in the loss at Iowa.

The Nittany Lions needed to replace a stout performer on the interior along with an emotional leader and team captain in the locker room. The task was significant, and it fell on the shoulders of some younger players.

In the wake of Mustipher’s injury, redshirt sophomore Dvon Ellies and redshirt freshman Coziah Izzard saw their reps increase significantly, and defensive line coach John Scott Jr. has been pleased with what he has seen from the young backups in some of their first extended action.

“Both of those young men, I think, have done a nice job of stepping up and having bigger roles within our unit,” Scott said over Zoom on Thursday. “We’ve always had from Day 1, the thing that we preach is the next man up mentality, and you don’t replace a PJ Mustipher, but what you try to do is get guys to step up and guys all do their one-eleventh, as we say all the time, and you get a combination, a group of guys filling that, and that’s how you fill the role.”

Izzard stepped into the starting lineup next to fifth-year senior Derrick Tangelo for the past three games, and Ellies has served as the No. 3 defensive tackle in the rotation. Izzard has seven tackles and a tackle for loss in the past three games. Ellies split a tackle for loss in the Ohio State loss two weeks ago.

While defensive tackle is a position where physical development is key and can be difficult, Scott highlighted the mental approach for both at the position.

“I think you continue to see with Coziah Izzard, he just got better and better as he was in there with the reps he was getting, and the young man does a good job,” Scott said. “He just doesn’t seem fazed. He goes in there and does a good job. It’s been nice to see Dvon Ellies grow this season compared to last year, his maturity and mastering the defense. It’s been nice to have him in there. He’s done a nice job for us, as well.”

Penn State needed to replace multiple contributors and depth pieces on the defensive line from last season with defensive tackles Antonio Shelton and Judge Culpepper and defensive ends Shaka Toney, Odafe Oweh and Shane Simmons departing.

Then, defensive end Adisa Isaac suffered a season-ending injury before the year started, and defensive tackle Hakeem Beamon is unavailable for the season. On top of that, Mustipher got hurt and defensive end Jesse Luketa, who moved from linebacker, didn’t play against Maryland because of injury.

Coach James Franklin said he wants to be 10-deep across the defensive line, and that has forced some younger players into action. On Wednesday night, Franklin highlighted how redshirt freshman Zuriah Fisher, another converted linebacker, filled in for Luketa at Maryland, and Scott echoed that praise.

“One of the things I felt like as the season played out and got going, that you were going to see a guy like Zuriah Fisher just continue to rise,” Scott said. “He was a linebacker last year and moved over with us in the spring, and you saw all the things that you wanted to see out of having a really good end, and then over the summer, it’s kind of evolved, and now Zuriah has begun to master the defense, it slows down for you, so now that athletic ability can take over. I’ve been very happy and pleased with the way he is progressing.”

Scott feels the presence of redshirt sophomore Smith Vilbert behind starters Arnold Ebiketie, Nick Tarburton and Luketa gives Penn State a five-man rotation at the spot.

The Penn State defensive line — and front seven as a whole — will need to be stout when Michigan visits Beaver Stadium on Saturday. The Wolverines average 239.9 rushing yards, which is good for No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 7 nationally. The Nittany Lions turned in a solid outing against Maryland last week, but the Michigan backfield of Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum is one of the best in the conference.

Plenty of attention will be on Scott’s position group, and he believes his players, experienced or not, will be ready for what will face them.

“Michigan’s got a really, really good rushing attack,” Scott said. “They are committed to running the football. … We know it’s going to be a tremendous challenge for our group. We’re going to have to do a great job of being physical and playing and striking our keys and getting off blocks, and our guys have practiced and prepared that way, so we know it’ll be a great challenge.”