Penn State Football 2019 Position Battle: Defensive Tackle

Penn State’s defensive line will have a bit of a different look this year

As is always the case, turnover is high in the world of college football. Each year, coaches need to go through the roster and find the next man ready to step up and contribute. Penn State enters the 2019 season needing to replace two starters on the defensive line. An important position battle to watch as spring practice begins will be at defensive tackle.

Starting defensive tackle Kevin Givens declared for the NFL Draft after the 2018 season wrapped up, creating a hole to be filled.

One of the defensive tackle spots will be filled by Robert Windsor, who started 12 games for the Nittany Lions last year. He made 38 total tackles and 6.5 sacks. HIs efforts last year earned him the honor of second-team All-Big Ten by the Associated Press.

While it’s clear that Windsor will be at one tackle spot, his partner up the middle isn’t exactly clear yet. Ellison Jordan, Antonio Shelton, Damion Barber, Fred Hansard, and PJ Mustipher will all be names that could end up winning the starting job.

All five players have experience at the collegiate level could come out with the starting job. Of the group, Shelton and Jordan are both redshirt juniors and have been around the longest.

Shelton appeared in six games as a redshirt freshman and 12 games last season. He has recorded 20 total tackles and two sacks during his time with the Nittany Lions.

Jordan hasn’t seen a lot of action yet, appearing in just 10 games, and he dealt with an injury last year.

Hansard showed promise as a redshirt freshman last season, but was injured against Michigan State and didn’t return for the remainder of the season.

Barber saw time in just three games last season and will likely once again serve in a backup role.

Perhaps the favorite to begin the year as a starter is Mustipher. He appeared in eight games last year as a true freshman and recorded 14 total tackles, including one for a loss.

There could be some newcomers in the mix when the true freshman get on campus this summer, but at this moment in time, Mustpher should have the upper-hand heading into practice. The battle for the starting defensive tackle spot will certainly be one to watch as spring and summer practices progress.