Penn State end Smith Vilbert to focus on rehab, second degree, ahead of 2024 return
The public learned on Aug. 6 that Penn State would be without the services of veteran defensive end Smith Vilbert during the 2023 season because of an undisclosed injury. However, 10th-year Lions head coach James Franklin revealed this week that the program has been planning to be without the redshirt senior from Monsey, N.Y., for much longer than that.
“One guy has been hurt since spring, just no one ever has asked me about him,” Franklin said. “That’s not new for us. Smith had this injury six months ago. So, that’s not anything new for us. It just came out publicly. But yeah, it’s still a point.”
Vilbert has had an up-and-down two years on the football field. His No. 92 jersey only took the field once last season, in the Rose Bowl, due to undisclosed reasons. But, he did practice and contribute to the scout team weekly before finally seeing the field in Pasadena. The Nittany Lion was to try and land rotation snaps this fall. Now, however, the new Penn State graduate will focus on rehab, recovery, and academics while helping the team in any other ways he can this fall.
“I think he’s got a really bright future,” Franklin said. “I’m super proud of Smith. Graduated on Saturday, his family was up here, which was great. So now it’s the plan of getting him ready to have a huge year next year and get a second degree, which is phenomenal.”
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Penn State is pleased with camp health so far
Franklin talked earlier this month about the team’s plan of “two spotting” in practice. In laymen’s terms, its two team periods going on at one time. Penn State has not always been able to do that due to depth and injury issues. But, they are both improved during this particular set of August drills. And, it’s certainly paying dividends.
“I thought we’d only be able to do that for about a week,” Franklin said. “We’re still doing it. It’s been huge. The thing that’s been dramatic, is we went back and studied the numbers, and our threes and fours I think have already doubled the reps that they got all last camp.
“So, that’s been really valuable from the development of our entire roster. You just don’t know how long you’re going to be able to sustain it. We’ve been able to sustain and it’s gone well.”
