Penn State football DT PJ Mustipher talks his future, injury rehab and more

Senior Penn State defensive tackle PJ Mustipher spoke to the media this week for the first time since suffering a season-ending injury against Iowa in Penn State’s sixth game of the season.

Mustipher discussed his future, his injury rehab, and offered thoughts on the performances of those who have stepped up in his absence.

Q: Can you describe what you’ve been through these last six weeks since the injury? What was your initial reaction when you learned it was going to knock you out for the season?

Mustipher: “It was weird. Since I’ve been playing football, you don’t expect to hear the news that you’re out for the rest of the season. I’ve been fortunate pretty much my entire life to be healthy. I’ve never put myself in that situation, so when it happened I was a little numb at first.

I didn’t really know what was going on, what life would be like, how much it would change for me. I really wasn’t sad, I really wasn’t mad at first, I was just like taking it all in. But it was tough, man. I think the first month of the injury was definitely challenging for me, just adjusting to not playing football, the game I love and stuff like that.

I’m in a good space now. I’m in a good place, been working, been rehabbing. Being with the guys definitely helps a lot, too, being out at practice and in the locker room and stuff like that. I’ve been doing a lot, trying to stay involved as much as possible and keep my mind off the injury.

Q: I wanted to ask if you’ve come to any decisions about next year and your future, if you plan to be here or not.

Mustipher: “I’ve had my end of season meeting with Coach Franklin already. We did that. But, no, I haven’t made any final decisions yet. I’m hoping to make that within the next couple weeks, but I’ve still got to sit down with my family and discuss everything. I haven’t made no plans yet, just trying to finish out the rest of the season strong and get a win in our bowl game. So I’m focused on the guys right now. Just haven’t made that decision yet, but hoping to make it soon.

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Q: Do you have a sense for how long your rehab will take, and how fortunate do you feel — as bad as the COVID year was — that it’s given you an extra year of eligibility so if you choose to use it you have that flexibility to do so?

Mustipher: I don’t want to get into the specifics about anything, you know we can’t do it. I’m working hard. I’ve got a long time, I will say that, but, you know, I gotta go in there each and every day, no matter how long it will take for me to get back.

I’m thankful for the staff, the medical staff, I’m thankful for my coaches and my teammates for being there for me every day to push me through. I’m rehabbing, I’m working out, I’m lifting, doing that whole thing. As far as that goes I’m just taking it day by day and controlling what I can control.

As far as the COVID year, man, now looking at it, just to be able to have that option. Before COVID hit, I’d be done, my college career would be over. I am extremely fortunate. I’m blessed that our COVID year allows us to have an extra year of eligibility so that is an option that’s on the table for me to do.

Q: What is the day like for you right now? Can you take us through how you balance being there for your teammates versus focusing on your rehab versus all your other academic stuff?

A: I wake up. I got an early class, I got an 8 a.m. So I go to my 8 a.m., get back to the facility around 9, do my treatment, go through that. That’ll be about an hour, hour and a half depending on what we have to do. Then I’ll go lift, that’s another hour, hour and a half. So I do all that, have to go to another class, then come back and sit in as many meetings as I can, then go out to practice and just be there.

It’s a real busy day, but at the same time I get to take a step back and see it from a different aspect. When we’re watching film, when we’re doing practice, I’m not really preparing for anything, but I’m there to let guys know what I’m seeing. When I’m on the practice field, I’m letting them know what I’m seeing as far as what they’re doing.

If they have any questions, they can always come and ask me; what am I seeing? What can they improve on? Stuff like that. So it’s definitely been different for me, but I appreciate it. Not too many chances have I had to step back from the game of football and see it from this view. It’s different but at the same time, I know everything happens for a reason.

Q: Since you’ve been out, what have you learned about the defensive line?

Mustipher: I definitely learned that they love ball. I always thought that I love ball, but these guys, I don’t think they care about anything else than going to work every day and trying to get wins on Saturday.

I get to see them interact with each other in the locker room and then interact with each other on the practice field, and then on Saturdays, and I just see how much joy it brings them to play with one another. Talking about the older guys, Derrick Tangelo, Jesse Luketa, Arnold Ebiketie, those guys are so passionate with what they do and how they want to lead.

I’ll talk about my guy [Tangelo]. I’ve gotten a chance to watch a lot of college football players. I think he’s one of the best defensive tackles in the country right now. Just what he’s been doing the past couple weeks and from earlier on this season. He’s been playing exceptionally well, and we needed him to do that. He’s really stepped up into that role, he’s doing a great job.

Coziah Izzard, I think y’all got to see a lot of him against Rutgers and what he was able to do. Since I’ve been down, he’s done an incredible job. I kinda spoke about that with you guys this summer, how he’s kinda turned a corner, taking that next step in his development. It’s starting to translate on the field and he’s doing a great job.

Dvon [Ellies], he’s also doing some great things and he’s continuing to move forward. He’s making plays. I’m enjoying it, man, I’m so happy for these guys and what they’ve been able to do and I know they’re going to finish out this year strong.

Q: What have you seen from a guy like Derrick Tangelo that has made him such a special player and has allowed him to step up the way that he has?

Mustipher: When you look at us as competitors, football players. We like to look at our stats. We like to look at the recognition we’re getting. You know, even for myself, as much as we say we don’t care about that stuff, you know we do a little bit. Being around him, he really doesn’t care about none of that. He goes out and he understands that he has a job to do, and whatever the team needs him to do each and every Saturday, he’s going to do it.

He’s not worried about nothing else but doing that and I think with his game he’s just continuing to get better and better each week from a technique standpoint and understanding what his role is in the defense and how he can make plays within the defensive framework. So he’s making a lot more plays as the season goes on and he’s turning into that elite defensive tackle that I knew he was always going to be, and you guys are just seeing that. I’m just really happy for him. That’s my guy.

Q: Everybody that has talked about you since you’ve been banged up has mentioned how positive and upbeat you’ve been in spite of it. How do you maintain that because it had to be a tough thing? Is there something in your life that kind of gave you perspective?

Mustipher: It’s definitely tough. I’m not going to sit here and say that it’s easy to always be upbeat. I think this injury for me has been more mental than physical. I can do the physical part, I can put the work in each and every day, but having that mental awareness and that mental strength each and every day when you’re not out there doing what you love is hard. You got to work at it each and every day, and sometimes it’s more challenging than other times. But, when I’m around my teammates and coaches, and I’m in the building, or I’m outside of the building, that’s when I feel better. I’m not worried about nothing else but supporting them. I definitely appreciate that.