Penn State Football’s Smith Vilbert’s Upside Adds New Layer to Nittany Lions Pass Rush

Penn State Football head coach James Franklin was glad to be asked flat-out delighted to answer.

The question about veteran defensive end Smith Vilbert came at the Penn State football coach’s Monday news conference for Bowling Green, two days after Vilbert appeared at West Virginia and recorded a sack.

What does the future hold for Vilbert was the gist of the question, referring to Vilbert’s injury last season and his unexplained absence until the Rose Bowl in 2022. Vilbert showed his explosive ability in Week 1 and got backup from Franklin that it was no fluke.

Remember, the last time we had seen Vilbert, he was recording three sacks in the Outback Bowl at the end of his 2021 season. Big things were assuredly coming, until they weren’t, which Franklin says is fueling Vilbert.

Here’s the full quote:

“I think that the first thing I would say, I think you guys remember me talking about Smith as a guy that no one is really talking about that I think is going to have a big year for us.

“It’s understandable, right? He missed essentially two years of football. You’re talking about a guy who was a high-level basketball player when we recruited him. He is 6’6″, 280 pounds. He can run, he can bend, he’s aggressive, and he’s mature. You’ve got a mature football player.

“So, I’m proud of him. He’s also a guy that got his degree. He’s done it right from that standpoint. I know he’s extremely hungry this year, with as much time as he’s invested, to really help this team as much as he possibly can to help the defense as much as he can, and also to have a big year for himself and his family.

“I think you guys are going to be continuing to talk about him a lot this year. I think there will be a lot of conversations about him on a national scale as well. Those guys are hard to find; guys that have a chance to be physical against the run and be disruptive as pass rushers.

“His length is an issue for people. I’m really proud of him. I think he’s going to have a big year and I’m glad you asked about him.”

Franklin had clearly thought about this and, in his typical fashion, was perhaps already trying to identify an opportunity to say this exact thing about Vilbert publicly.

All the things Franklin said, boiled down who he hoped would hear the message:

1.) Vilbert: “We believe in you, and we have expectations that you’ll get the payoff you deserve if you keep doing things right.

2.) NFL talent evaluators: “When Vilbert does a lot with moderate playing time this season, he’s an athlete worth a 6th-round pick.”

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What would Smith Vilbert’s emergence mean to Penn State’s pass rush?

Quite a bit, actually. And the real strength of this entire unit is the fact that guys like Vilbert and Amin Vanover can anchor the second unit behind Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton.

Think of the flexibility, too. DC Tom Allen can move Carter wherever he wants and still generate pressure from both end spots with Dennis-Sutton and Vilbert.

Penn State suffered a big personnel loss and a major source of excitement about the future at defensive end when sophomore Jameial Lyons was dismissed from the team.

A late-career breakout from Vilbert would be a nice short-term playmaking boost.

MORE: Key Matchups Penn State Must Win vs. Bowling Green

 

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