Defensive-End Carl Nassib is having an exceptional senior season and is just shy of a Penn State record.
Nassib arrived to Happy Valley as a preferred walk on but did not see any game action until his sophomore season in 2013 against Syracuse at Metlife Stadium. He appeared in 10 games and recorded 12 tackles (11 solo) 2.0 tackles for loss (minus-25), one sack, one forced fumble and a pass breakup. He also was selected Academic All-Big Ten.
In 2014, during his junior season Nassib was Selected Academic All-Big Ten for a second time. He appeared in all 13 games on defense and special teams including seven tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss (minus-22), one sack (minus-5), one forced fumble and one pass breakup.
Now in his senior year, Nassib is averaging 16.5 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles. Nassib’s five forced fumbles this season are the most by a Penn State player since Maurice Evans (five) in the 2007 season. He was recently added to the Bednarik Award watch list for the nation’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Nassib was also recently named ESPN.com Midseason All Big Ten Team.
The senior has also earned 11.5 sacks, which is just shy of Penn State’s all-time single season record of 15, with Aaron Maybin having 12 sacks in the 2008 season. Against Ohio State alone, Nassib, had 3.5 tackles for loss just continuing to build his impressive All-Big Ten case.
He’ll face a Maryland offensive line that gave up four quarterback sacks to Ohio State, so things are in Nassib’s favor.
The Nittany Lions will be headed to Baltimore this weekend at M&T Bank Stadium to face the Maryland Terrapins this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The game will be broadcasted live on ESPN, the Penn State Sports Network (2 p.m. pregame) and GoPSUsports.com.
