Defensive tackle PJ Mustipher told reporters Wednesday at Big Ten Media Day that he’ll be 100% by the time training camp opens up Aug. 1.
Mustipher, a soon-to-be fifth-year senior who has become a team leader, down with a season-ending injury last October at Iowa Oct. 9.
PJ Mustipher said he will be fully healthy when camp opens. Passed his conditioning test with the same results he had before the injury pic.twitter.com/ejYPZFRxc6
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) July 27, 2022
Coach James Franklin said the same, stating that Mustipher is “mentally and physically 100 percent back.”
At a Penn State coaches media availability session last month, Franklin said the program expected Mustipher to be back by the team’s season opener at Purdue, scheduled for Sept. 1.
At the time, Franklin praised the medical personnel that worked to get Mustipher back healthy.
“Our trainers and doctors have done a fantastic job with him,” Franklin said. “The doctor that did his surgery in New York did a fantastic job.”
This news comes a day after Mustipher was named to the watch list the Outland Trophy (best interior lineman) and on the same day he was named to the watch list for the Nagurski (best defensive player) Trophy.
Before Mustipher got hurt last season, Penn State was 5-0 and ranked No. 4 in the country.
The team ended up finishing 7-6.
Franklin and the coaching staff are ecstatic to have him back.
“I think you’ll see big things out of him this year,” Franklin said.
