The outlook for Penn State’s defensive line for 2022 looks promising.
With defensive tackle PJ Mustipher set to return, defensive end Nick Tarburton still with eligibility, fellow defensive end Adisa Isaac looking to come back from an injury that kept him on the shelf for the 2021 season and blue-chip recruit Dani Dennis-Sutton coming in, the Nittany Lions’ defensive from figures to be an experienced group this fall.
That group could get even deeper— and better— if Miami of Ohio transfer Kam Butler comes to Happy Valley.
Butler, who’s deciding to move on from the MId-American conference after four years in Oxford, Ohio, has received an offer from Penn State a day after entering the transfer portal.
Blessed to receive an offer from Penn State @DannKabalaPSU pic.twitter.com/eV3Q4siglS
— Kam Butler (@kbzzz__) January 25, 2022
Butler— an Alexandria, Kentucky, native who attended Covington Catholic High School— started for three of his four years with the Red Hawks and was a second-team all-MAC selection in both 2019 and an abbreviated three-game 2020 season.
Butler finished his last season at Miami of Ohio with eight sacks, good for sixth in the MAC, and was fourth in the conference with 12 solo tackles for loss. Butler totaled 53 tackles and forced three fumbles in 2021. Getting more advanced, Pro Football Focus gave Butler a 79.3 overall defensive grade.
Penn State was the first school that Butler tweeted has offered him. He’s since announced offers from Ole Miss and Virginia via Twitter.
Even with Penn State having pieces coming back/coming in at defensive end, the Nittany Lions will still have to account for the loss of Arnold Ebiketie, who became one of the top edge rushers in 2021. Like Butler, Ebiketie spent four years at a mid-major school (Temple) before excelling in the Big Ten. James Franklin and company hope Butler will pick Penn State and go on to have a similar impact.
