Penn State is going to have a new look up front on the defensive line in 2022 following with Arnold Ebiketie and Derrick Tangelo heading off to the NFL. While PJ Mustipher will be back, James Franklin and his staff are actively pursuing immediate reinforcements for the defensive line in 2022. One of those potential targets appears to have Penn State in the running as he makes a decision on his next step.
Ochaun Mathis, a defensive end from TCU, entered the transfer portal in January, and he recently narrowed down his list to five options. Penn State was in that mix along with USC, Texas, Ole Miss, and Nebraska. Mathis shared his top five with a post on his Twitter account.
Mathis will have two years of eligibility wherever he heads next. The redshirt junior has the extra year of eligibility granted to all student-athletes by the NCAA due to the COVID pandemic in his pocket should he decide to use it. Mathis has plenty of experience to bring to the table with appearances in 36 games over three seasons with 133 career tackles and 12.5 sacks.
The Texas native would be a great addition to Penn State and could have the opportunity to jump right into a starting role similar to former defensive lineman transfer Arnold Ebiketie. Ebiketie took advantage of his transfer to Penn State (from Temple) by becoming one of the top defensive players in the Big Ten in 2021. Ebiketie is now a prospect to watch in the 2022 NFL draft pool.
But Penn State is apparently in some thick competition for the transfer of Mathis. Ole Miss has been knocking it out of the park with the transfer portal, and the enthusiasm for USC has been given a jumpstart with the hiring of Lincoln Riley. And Texas is the logical in-state option with a move to the SEC coming and the Longhorns bringing in a very talented Class of 2022 already.
List
2021-2022 Penn State…
..
