Penn State Football: creating an All-James Franklin era defense

First Team Defensive Line

Yetur Gross-Matos (defensive end, 2017-2019)

Prior to becoming a second-round NFL Draft pick by the Carolina Panthers, Yetur Gross-Matos tallied 111 total tackles, 36.5 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks, and a pair of forced fumbles in just three years as a Nittany Lion.

He was a first team All-Big Ten selection in 2019 and in 2018 was a first team media selection and third team coaches selection. Gross-Matos was excellent both as a run defender and as a pass rusher for Penn State Football, and was highly productive in his brief career.

Austin Johnson (defensive tackle, 2011-2015)

As the anchor of Penn State’s 2015 defensive line that was one of the nation’s best, Austin Johnson had an impressive Penn State Football career that saw him rack up 154 total tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, and five pass deflections. He also had four career fumble recoveries, one of which was one of his signature moments: a 71-yard scoop and score against San Diego State in 2015.

Johnson was an all-conference selection in 2015 and was a second-round draft pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2016.

PJ Mustipher (defensive tackle, 2018-present)

Even to this point, PJ Mustipher has done enough to warrant himself as one of the two best defensive tackles of the James Franklin era, and he will have an opportunity to build on that in 2022. Despite missing half the season with an injury last year, Mustipher was still a second team All-Big Ten selection.

So far in his career, he has 107 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, and two forced fumbles. If healthy, PJ Mustipher will likely be a first team all-conference selection this year, could make a case for an All-American selection, and will certainly be a day one or two NFL Draft pick next April.

Carl Nassib (defensive end, 2011-2015)

Carl Nassib is yet another defensive lineman who played for coaches Paterno, O’Brien, and Franklin – and is one of the best defensive ends to have played under James Franklin. While his career as a whole was not overwhelmingly impressive, Nassib’s 2015 season alone got him a first team All-James Franklin era selection.

That 2015 season saw Carl Nassib lead the nation with 15.5 sacks enroute to a first team All-Big Ten and first team All-American selection. He also had six forced fumbles during that campaign. His remarkable senior season allowed him to become a third-round pick in the 2016 draft by the Cleveland Browns.