Penn State Football Early Position Preview 2016: Defensive Line
In VBR’s continuing series of Penn State football position previews, it is time to take a look at the group that will make one of the biggest changes this offseason-the defensive line. The team’s top three defensive linemen from a year ago, Carl Nassib, Anthony Zettel, and Austin Johnson, are all headed to the NFL.
Those three last year were the heart of the Penn State defense, and were often seen in the opposition’s backfield. Nassib lead not just the team or conference, but nation in sacks with 15.5. Zettel contributed with four sacks, while Johnson got to the opposing quarterback six and half times. Combined, the three NFL prospects totaled 26 sacks, nearly 60 percent of Penn State’s 46 team sacks in 2015, which ranked third in the nation.
This year, the Penn State defensive line has plenty of athleticism and a strong skill set that will allow the Nittany Lions to still be a force in the trenches on the defensive side of the ball. Not to mention the strong asset of having Sean Spencer coaching the “Wild Dogs” as he enters his third season as coach of the unit. Over his first two years, Spencer has strongly taken over the legacy and tradition of Penn State’s defensive line and then some. As he pointed out on twitter, Penn State is “Linebacker U” but it is quickly turning into “Defensive Line U” as the Nittany Lions have had several recent players go onto to succeed in the NFL.
Next season, there will be a few familiar faces mixed in with a good amount of new faces as well. Penn State’s only returning starter on the defensive line, Garrett Sickels, will be returning for his redshirt junior year. Sickels took steps forward in 2015, and saw action in 12 of 13 games. He will arguably be the leader of the Penn State defensive line in 2016, and will be looking to make his mark moving forward. Sickels has the skill set and capabilities of being a top defensive end in the Big ten.
Returning to the defensive line with Sickels in 2016 is rising senior, Evan Schwan.
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Last season, Schwan was considered a possible breakout player by various Penn State beats and reporters, but never lived up to the expectations. In nine games last season, Schwan only collected 18 tackles and half a sack. Schwan has the skill set to be a quality defensive end, but has yet to find consistency on the field over his three seasons. He will potentially get the first crack at filling the vacant defensive end spot.
Torrence Brown will also have an opportunity to slide into the spot left by Carl Nassib, and will hope to build off his successful freshman season that saw him record 11 tackles and five and half tackles for a loss, including a sack, in just five games. Brown has the chance to become a force on the defensive line next season and possesses all the skills that would make him a great edge rusher at the next level.
The last returning defensive end is Curtis Cothran. He appeared in 13 games last season and was able to record 16 tackles, including two and a half sacks. Cothran will be moved to defensive tackle for this season.
On the interior, Penn State has two returning players from last season in redshirt sophomore Antoine White and redshirt junior Parker Cothren. Cothren backed up Austin Johnson last season and saw time in all 13 games, recording 14 total tackles. White saw action in 10 games last year, and recorded a sack and 10 total tackles. Redshirt freshman Kevin Givens will move from defensive end to defensive tackle this season.
Penn State’s most recent recruiting class featured two defensive end prospects from junior college, Tyrell Chavis and Brenton Thrift. Chavis was a highly-rated JUCO defensive tackle who could easily become one of Penn State’s starting defensive tackles in 2016. His extra experience, as well as ideal size, gives him an edge on the current and incoming players who could be looking to become the starting defensive tackle. Thrift, is someone who most likely won’t be a starter this season, but could see some playing time, building up to a bigger role in 2017.
True freshmen Shane Simmons, Shaka Toney, Daniel Joseph, Antonio Shelton, and Ellison Jordon will all be around, but it’s still a bit unclear who will receive redshirts for 2016.
Redshirt freshman Ryan Bucholz, Shareef Miller, and possibly tight end Johnathan Holland could be in the mix for playing time on the defensive line in 2016.
2016 Penn State Early Position Previews