Penn State defender P.J. Mustipher is back; now, attention turns to 2 other needed defensive linemen returns
Penn State defensive tackle P.J. Mustipher missed half of the 2021 Nittany Lions football season due to injury.
At least in part because of that, the All-Big Ten defender is coming back for another season in 2022.
Mustipher suffered an undisclosed lower-body injury in Penn State’s 23-20 loss to Iowa in October. Head coach James Franklin said he went to New York for surgery sometime before the calendar flipped to November. By the time he talked to reporters a few weeks later, Mustipher was already started down the recovery and rehab road. He wasn’t ready to say then that he would be back. But, he later announced the news shortly after the latest Lions slate concluded with a loss to Arkansas in the Outback Bowl.
“It’s definitely tough,” Mustipher said in November. “I’m not going to sit here and say that it’s easy to always be upbeat. I think this injury for me has been more mental than physical. I can do the physical part, I can put the work in each and every day, but having that mental awareness and that mental strength each and every day when you’re not out there doing what you love is hard. You got to work at it each and every day, and sometimes it’s more challenging than other times.
“But, when I’m around my teammates and coaches, and I’m in the building, or I’m outside of the building, that’s when I feel better. I’m not worried about nothing else but supporting them. I definitely appreciate that.”
It’s unclear when Mustipher will be cleared for drills again. But, he is expected to be a leader of the defense. The question now, however, is will two other Penn State defensive linemen also be back in 2022?
Penn State needs Issac, Beamon, back in the fold
Our Thursday thought is this: Mustipher returning was a must-have development for the Lions. But, two more positive announcements would help.
The first comes at defensive end. Penn State did not announce that Adisa Isaac would miss the entire 2021 season until August. It knew about the non-football-related injury that made it so long before that, however. The Lions it through without the expected starter because transfer Arnold Ebiketie, Jesse Luketa, who moved from linebacker to end, and Nick Tarburton held up splendidly during the 7-6 stretch. But, of that group, only Tarburton returns. Smith Vilbert and Zuriah Fisher both flashed at times this year. However, is either ready for a first-team role? It’s hard to say with confidence. Penn State could address its need here via the transfer portal. But Isaac is the perfect, and preferred, way to do it. There has been no update on his status since the summer, however.
Then, there is Hakeem Beamon. The expected starter at best and key reserve at worst in 2021 was not in uniform for the Lions’ first four games. Then, Franklin said that it would be that way for the remainder of the year.
“Hakeem loves football, so in practice, he’s good because he loves to play football,” Franklin said. “But he will be unavailable this week and he will be unavailable for the season.”
Beamon is at defensive tackle on Penn State’s roster. The Lions could certainly carve out a role for him, either as a first- or second-teamer, in 2022 if whatever kept the 6-foot-3, 276 pounder off the field is in the past. There’s been no recent update on his status, either, however.
Penn State needed Mustipher back. It needs Isaac and Beamon to be ready, too, if it wants a chance to field another strong defensive line in 2022.
