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Penn State Football: Grading Nittany Lions’ performance vs. Idaho

By Dylan Burd

STATE COLLEGE, PA - AUGUST 31: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions throws a pass for a touchdown against the Idaho Vandals during the first half at Beaver Stadium on August 31, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - AUGUST 31: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions throws a pass for a touchdown against the Idaho Vandals during the first half at Beaver Stadium on August 31, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – AUGUST 31: Yetur Gross-Matos #99 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates against the Idaho Vandals during the first half at Beaver Stadium on August 31, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – AUGUST 31: Yetur Gross-Matos #99 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates against the Idaho Vandals during the first half at Beaver Stadium on August 31, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Defensive Line

Going into this season, the defensive line was expected to be Penn State’s best unit after returning some of the 2018 talents, including junior defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos, who had 20 tackles for loss and eight sacks last season. In 2018, Penn State’s defense ranked fourth in the nation with 47 sacks, 37 of them coming from the defensive line.

Predictably, the defensive line picked up right where they left off last season, as they had seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss. In addition, Penn State only allowed four rushing yards the entire game.

Gross-Matos led the Nittany Lions with 2.5 sacks, all of which came in the first half. Redshirt freshman defensive end Jayson Oweh, redshirt junior defensive end Shaka Toney, and redshirt junior defensive end Daniel Joseph all had a sack. Redshirt senior Robert Windsor had half a sack.

Furthermore, sophomore defensive tackle P.J Mustipher tied for the team-lead in tackles with four. True freshman defensive end Adisa Isaac had three tackles, including half a tackle for a loss. Redshirt junior defensive tackle Antonio Shelton had a tackle for a loss as well.

Overall, you really couldn’t have asked for much better from the defensive line. I have little doubt that this will be the Nittany Lions’ most dominant unit this year.

Grade: A+

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