Penn State Football: which returning starters need to step up in 2022?

Nick Tarburton – defensive end

As an experienced veteran and one of few returning starters from last year’s defense, Nick Tarburton will need to take his game to the next level this season – especially with the departure of Arnold Ebiketie.

2021 was the first time in his career that Tarburton saw extensive action, and throughout the season he recorded 31 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, as well as just one sack and one QB hurry.

He was already a solid run-defender, and while it obviously wouldn’t hurt to improve in that department, that’s not the area of concern in his game.

Nick Tarburton needs to step it up as a pass rusher.

Penn State Football lost much of its sack production from a year ago, which wasn’t very good to begin with (outside of Ebiketie).

In two of their six losses, the Nittany Lions failed to record a single sack (Ohio State and Michigan State).

They need to find a way to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks, plain and simple. Penn State will face a number of good quarterbacks this season, and if you give passers such as CJ Stroud, Aidan O’Connell, Taulia Tagovailoa, and Payton Thorne too much time in a clean pocket, they will make you pay.

As a returning starter and someone with a lot of experience, Nick Tarburton needs to step it up in a defensive end group with a lot of question marks.