Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1410640
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 1 2 7 T here was a running jab directed at senior defensive end Ar- nold Ebiketie throughout Penn State's offseason: This ain't Temple. It was and is a joke, of course, but the defensive end's play so far has been no laughing matter for opponents. Ebiketie, who transferred to Penn State in January after spending the previous four years in the Owls' program, played a starring role during the first two weeks of the Nittany Lions' season. He had his "welcome to Penn State" moment on the first defensive snap of the Nittany Lions' season when he blew off the edge and crushed Wisconsin run- ning back Chez Mellusi in the backfield at Camp Randall Stadium. The play, which cost the Badgers 4 yards, set the tone for a dominant afternoon by the Lions' defense while also announcing to the world that Ebiketie was not just here to play, but was ready to be a game wrecker. By the time Penn State clinched a 16-10 victory with its second interception of the fourth quarter, the 6-foot-3, 256-pound Ebiketie had amassed seven tackles, in- cluding two tackles for loss and a sack, and he added a quarterback hurry. He also blocked a field goal attempt, which turned out to be a crucial moment in the contest. "Just coming out here with those guys, and just being around those guys, the en- ergy we bring, I'm just blessed to be out here, honestly," Ebiketie said afterward. Ebiketie turned in his tremendous Week 1 performance despite having to leave the game in the third quarter with a leg injury. It was unclear why he was forced to head briefly to the locker room, and James Franklin's policy is to never discuss injuries unless they are season- ending. But whatever was bothering him was quickly remedied, and he returned to the game to help Penn State finish off the Badgers. The former Temple standout saved what may have been his best moment for last. On the game's penultimate play, he forced Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz to throw an errant pass out of bounds, resulting in a flag for in- tentional grounding. The 10-yard loss, coupled with a 10-second runoff, put a damper on the Badgers' comeback bid. One play later, senior safety Ji'Ayir Brown ended Wisconsin's hopes with an interception. One of the more remarkable aspects of that decisive sequence was that Penn State rushed only three players against the Badgers' five-man front, but Ebiketie still broke through to force the penalty. "We all joke around, but we all knew what we had to do coming in," Ebiketie QUICK FIX Speedy transfer Arnold Ebiketie has wasted no time making an impression on opponents as a standout addition to the Nittany Lions' defensive line In the Nittany Lions' first two games of the season, Ebiketie posted 11 tackles, i n c lu d i n g a te a m - h i g h three for losses. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL G R E G P I C K E L | G P I C 9 2 @ G M A I L . C O M W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M