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Penn State Football: will the Nittany Lions get better or get worse at each position on defense?

By Nick Kreiser

STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 02: Joey Porter Jr. #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after a play against the Indiana Hoosiers during the second half at Beaver Stadium on October 2, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 02: Joey Porter Jr. #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after a play against the Indiana Hoosiers during the second half at Beaver Stadium on October 2, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 20: Coziah Izzard #99 of the Penn State Nittany Lions pursues Noah Vedral #0 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the first half at Beaver Stadium on November 20, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 20: Coziah Izzard #99 of the Penn State Nittany Lions pursues Noah Vedral #0 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the first half at Beaver Stadium on November 20, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Defensive Tackle

For the first time in a long time, defensive tackle could be a strength for Penn State Football.

An all-conference performer in PJ Mustipher returns, as well as Coziah Izzard and Dvon Ellis, both of which gained a ton of valuable experience in Mustipher’s absence last year.

Also returning to the field after a one-year absence will be Hakeem Beamon, who is an excellent pass-rush specialist from the interior, as pointed out by For The Blogy in their YouTube Video: 5 Penn State Players Facing a ‘Make or Break’ Season in 2022.

On top of all that, the Nittany Lions will benefit from the services of true freshman defensive tackle: Zane Durant. Durant had a breakout winter and spring as an early enrollee, and is believed to have the potential to make in immediate impact on this team.

The defensive tackle unit does lose the veteran leadership and experience of Derrick Tangelo from the starting lineup, but with such a deep and talented unit, his absence should seemingly go unnoticed.

The interior of the defensive front was already a solid unit last season when Mustipher was healthy, and it seems like they will take a big step forward heading into 2022 and become one of the better position groups on the team.

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