Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin spoke to reporters on Wednesday morning as Big Ten media days opened. Franklin had some good news for fans. Franklin told the media that senior defensive tackle PJ Mustipher has cleared physicals and conditioning tests and expected to start Week 1.
“We expect him ready by Game 1,” Franklin said.
He injured his left knee last November, an injury that required surgery and cost him the remainder of his true senior season. Mustipher, who was eligible to enter the 2022 NFL Draft, decided to utilize the extra year of eligibility provided by the NCAA due to the pandemic and return this season.
James Franklin says senior All-Big Ten DT PJ Mustipher has passed his final Penn State conditioning test. He missed the second half of last season with knee injury.
Wrote about the impact of his return here: https://t.co/FfyL78SHS3
— Tyler Donohue (@TDsTake) July 27, 2022
When it was Mustipher’s opportunity to speak to the media, he repeated what Franklin said. Reiterating the fact that he had passed all of his conditioning tests and will be ready to start the season.
The Nittany Lions will open the season on Thursday, September 1 on the road against Purdue.
Mustipher brings leadership and physicality to Nittany Lions defense
PJ Mustipher was not medically cleared to participate in spring football. But he was in attendance at all practices and was a vocal presence. The Penn State defense will have a new defensive coordinator this season with Manny Diaz. Diaz, who was the head coach for the University of Miami was hired to replace Brent Pry when he became head coach at Virginia Tech.
The Penn State defense will certainly benefit from having him back on the field. In his absence, Penn State struggled to keep opponents at bay. Finishing the season with an abysmal 7-6 record, and then being defeated by the Arizona Razorbacks in the Outback Bowl.
The defensive tackle was named to the 2021 second team All-Big Ten, even with his season being cut short six weeks in. In his time on the field for the Nittany Lions, Mustipher had 21 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and one sack. The previous season he was named to the first team All-Big Ten.
Along with his teammates, Mustipher was added to two preseason award watch lists. PJ Mustipher was named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy preseason watch list as well as the Outland Trophy award watch list. The Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the best defensive player in all of college football. The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best defense/offense interior lineman in college football.
Penn State CB Joey Porter Jr. was also named to the Nagurski preseason watch list. Winning the Nagurski award may be a tough feat for both. Since the trophy was created in 1993, no Penn State player has won the award.