Penn State end Smith Vilbert to be back in action for the Lions at the Rose Bowl
LOS ANGELES — Penn State defensive end Smith Vilbert had a breakout three-sack performance in last year’s Outback Bowl. It led many to believe that the 6-foot-6, 256-pound would break out in his fourth year as a Nittany Lion. However, he did not suit up for the team in September. By October, head coach James Franklin confirmed he would not be available this season.
No reason was ever revealed. However, it meant Penn State was down a body in its defensive end room. That is no longer the case, though. Vilbert traveled with the team to California and will be available for the Rose Bowl. He was seen on the practice field at Dignity Health Sports Park on Thursday and is likely to be used on Monday against Utah.
“Having him back, everybody saw what he did in the Outback Bowl last year,” Lions senior defensive tackle PJ Mustipher said. “So, you know, he can play football at a high level and there’s no doubt about that. We have a deep defensive end room, and adding him in there, it only gets deeper. When you add on a high-level defense end, it helps the whole defensive line and the whole defense get better.
“As far as off the field, he’s had to grind, and he’s done that. Everybody goes through things in life, and this was one for him, and as you can see, he’s out there on the practice field. He’s overcome it. And that’s just the guy who he is, and that’s the guys we have in this locker room when adversity comes you know, we bounce right back and get to it.”
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Penn State end Smith Vilbert has ‘sneaky talent’
Vilbert started one game in 2021. A former high school basketball standout who transitioned to football late in his prep career, he has played in 16 games so far as a Nittany Lion. It means that teammates have seen his abilities in practice. But, aside from the Outback Bowl, outside observers rarely have.
What is he capable of?
“Really, just his physical build,” end Adisa Isaac said. “He was a former basketball player like me, so he has a lot of the same type of twitchy movements, just in a bigger frame.
“He’s a very powerful guy. So a lot of his moves and the way he moves on the field is just really difficult to stop because, you don’t see a guy with that amount of length and reach and also speed that he has as well.”
Vilbert and the Lions battle the Utes at 5 p.m. ET Monday on ESPN.
