Penn State Football: key players for the Nittany Lions against the Auburn Tigers

Sep 10, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford (14) warms up prior to the game against the Ohio Bobcats at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford (14) warms up prior to the game against the Ohio Bobcats at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /
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WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – SEPTEMBER 01: PJ Mustipher #97 of the Penn State Nittany Lions is seen before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on September 1, 2022 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – SEPTEMBER 01: PJ Mustipher #97 of the Penn State Nittany Lions is seen before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on September 1, 2022 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Key player on defense – PJ Mustipher (DT)

PJ Mustipher is one of the best interior defensive linemen in the Big Ten, and he has an opportunity to prove that this week against an outstanding rushing attack.

Slowing down Tank Bigsby and Jarquez Hunter starts up front, and it starts with Penn State’s All-Big Ten defensive tackle.

Being that Penn State Football faced a pair of pass-heavy offenses in Purdue and Ohio, Mustipher has not gotten much of an opportunity to make an impact so far this season, but that all changes today.

When he went down with an injury last year at Iowa, it was noticeable just how valuable PJ Mustipher is for this defense–especially when it comes to defending the run. The entire front seven obviously needs to have a good game, but it will be especially important for Mustipher to play some of the best football of his career this afternoon inside Jordan-Hare Stadium.