P.J.

Mustipher

Mustipher (6'4/326) saw his 2021 season come to an end after a knee injury in middle October resulted in him appearing in just six games for the Nittany Lions. Mustipher had a solid six games for Penn State however, totaling 25 tackles, three quarterback pressures and one sack over that span according to Pro Football focus, while appearing on 228 defensive snaps. He was on pace for a career-year before his knee injury, and could prove to be a dominant force for Penn State in 2022 if he returns completely healed.

Mustipher (6'4/326) injured his knee during the first quarter of Saturday’s game, and while it was initially reported that the injury wasn’t serious, he did not return and now we know that it was much more serious than was originally let on. The redshirt junior, who’s a key cog in the Nittany Lions’ defensive line rotation, logging 228 defensive snaps, 22 tackles and three pressures. Their game last Saturday against Iowa was costly as QB Sean Clifford also left the game due to injury. The Nittany Lions are on bye this week and will face Illinois the following Saturday.

Mustipher (6'4/326) injured his knee during the first quarter of Saturday’s game, and while it was initially reported that the injury wasn’t serious, he will not return to the game. The redshirt junior, who’s a key cog in the Nittany Lions’ defensive line rotation, is now using crutches to move about the Penn State sideline.

Mustipher (6'4/326) injured his knee during the first quarter, and spent a considerable amount of time in the medical tent as a result. The redshirt junior now has a brace on his knee, but he’s also standing on the sideline without his helmet. We’ll have to wait and see if Mustipher is allowed to return at some point in Saturday’s showdown, but his lack of a helmet is certainly a concern.

Mustipher (6'4/326), one of the most important players on the Penn State defense, was injured during Iowa’s first offensive drive of the game. While he hasn’t been officially ruled out for the remainder of the game, Penn State took the step of getting Mustipher’s father from the stands so that he could accompany his son in the injury tent. We’ll have an update on Mustipher’s status once that information becomes available.

Mustipher (6'4/322) started all nine of the Nittany Lions’ games in 2020 and was quite productive, accounting for 35 total tackles (12 solo, 1.5 for loss), one sack, two quarterback hurries and a pass breakup. With the 2021 season expected to be closer to “normal” for Penn State (and all of college football, for that matter), the redshirt junior could be even better this fall. “I think P.J. Mustipher is going to have just an awesome year,” Pry told The Athletic. “He’s one of our hardest workers, one of our best leaders. He’s grown into the position. I just think he’s setting himself up to do some big things.” The tandem of Mustipher and the versatile Hakeem Beamon, who can potentially be used either inside or out on the defensive line, has the potential to be one of the better duos in the Big Ten.

Mustipher (6'5/290) sat at No. 164 on the Rivals master list prior to this latest set, now up to No. 107 overall. He signed with Penn State during the early December window. The buzzword around the Owings Mills, Maryland, native is “energy.” He’s got a motor that refuses to stop and showed out well during the Under Armour All-America Game practices earlier this month. Rivals’ Adam Friedman believes Mustipher could “really thrive” in the Nittany Lions’ defensive attack.

Mustipher had offers from several prestigious schools, including Alabama and Notre Dame. The 6-foot-5 290-pound lineman ranked sixth on 247 Sports list of defensive tackles, and ESPN ranks him sixth best of any player in Maryland. Positive reports note that Mustipher has an excellent frame and plays with a high motor, while noting that he needs to work on his fluidity.