The 2019 Penn State Nittany Lions: Defensive tackles

Antonio Shelton pursued the starting role like he went after quarterbacks as the top backup at tackle last season. Will his leadership and athleticism make him the next in a long line of dominant interior linemen in 2019? ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

Over the next several days, Times Shamrock Penn State football beat writer Donnie Collins will break down the Nittany Lions’ roster, position by position, predicting the depth chart for the Nittany Lions’ opener against Idaho on Aug. 31 along the way.

Today we continue with the defensive tackles.

The contenders

No.	Player	HT	WT	ELIG
27	Aeneas Hawkins	6’2”	272	rFr
44	Joseph Appiah Darkwa	6’5”	272	Fr
53	Fred Hansard	6’3”	316	rSo
54	Robert Windsor	6’4”	285	Sr
55	Antonio Shelton	6’2”	311	rJr
58	Evan Presta	6’3”	288	rSo
88	Judge Culpepper	6’4”	284	rFr
90	Damion Barber	6’3”	290	rSo
91	Dvon Ellies	6’1”	304	Fr
93	P.J. Mustipher	6’4”	311	So

 

The 2018 results

 

Player	Tackles	TFL	Sacks	QBH
Windsor	39	11	7.5	3
Shelton	14	1.5	1	0
Mustipher	14	1	0	1
Hansard	2	0.5	0	0

 

The names to know

All of a sudden, Robert Windsor is one of the more seasoned tackles in the Big Ten. He earned second-team all-conference honors last season and quietly had one of the most solid seasons on the defense, finishing a half sack shy of the team lead and third overall on the squad in tackles for loss. He did, however, miss the Citrus Bowl for a violation of team rules, and the Nittany Lions are going to need their most experienced veteran on the defensive line to be a leader of sorts.

He’s going to be pushed for playing time if he slips, for sure. Antonio Shelton is a junior who was one of the better leaders on the defense despite his backup status last season, and he has the size and motor to continue the Nittany Lions tradition of building solid defensive lines around emerging tackles. He’s not guaranteed a starting spot, though. Sophomore P.J. Mustipher didn’t play a ton last season, but he clearly improved as the season went on, and he’s regarded by many as the most talented of Penn State’s defensive tackles.

Fred Hansard cracked the rotation early last season, but he suffered a season-ending injury at the midway point of the regulars season and will have to rebound healthy this summer to be a factor. Converted defensive end Damion Barber is an intriguing prospect with quick feet who will be looking to be a more regular contributor after bulking up to 290 pounds in the offseason, and two redshirt freshmen — Judge Culpepper and Aeneas Hawkins — are highly regarded prospects and sons of former NFL standouts looking to push for a role. Culpepper, for one, stood out on scout team last year.

What’s new

The Nittany Lions added two tackles in the 2019 recruiting class, and both are making a name for themselves.

Massive German Joseph Appiah Darkwa has the height and strength to contribute immediately, but a year in the Penn State strength and conditioning program is likely needed. Fellow freshman Dvon Ellies is already 304 pounds, and the four-star recruit is quick for his stout size. If Penn State needs help up front stopping the run, he’s a good bet to be the newcomer that gets the first look.

The forecast

Starter	Robert Windsor	Antonio Shelton
Backup	Damion Barber	P.J. Mustipher
3	Fred Hansard	Dvon Ellies

 

The prediction falls pretty much into what one would expect, but this is going to be a much more interesting race for playing time than that. Shelton is the type of guy that finds a way to contribute and succeed, and Mustipher is too good not to start. Deal in Barber and Hansard, who will likely need to ease his way back in this season, and Penn State has a solid core that will give it a strong rotation this season.