Penn State senior defensive tackle PJ Mustipher has opted to take advantage of the extra year of eligibility stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and will return for his fifth season of college football.
— Pj Mustipher (@KingPJ55) January 4, 2022
Mustipher was performing at an All-Big Ten caliber level this year before suffering a season-ending against Iowa. His absence was felt almost immediately with Penn State allowing over 350 yards on the ground to Illinois in the first game following his injury.
A four-star recruit in Penn State's 2018 class, Mustipher saw the field as a true freshman - a rarity for linemen during the James Franklin era. He took on a bigger role in 2019 before becoming a full-time starter in 2020.
Mustipher's return bolsters a Nittany Lion defensive line that's already set to lose two starters following the 2021 season. Underclassmen D'Von Ellies and Coziah Izzard, who helped replace Mustipher this year, will battle for the starting job opposite of him.
