Penn State Football: Derrick Tangelo Opts Out of Outback Bowl, Declares for NFL Draft

In what has effectively become a daily occurrence, another Penn State player has opted out of this weekend’s Outback Bowl.

Defensive tackle Derrick Tangelo announced on Wednesday that he will sit out Saturday’s game against Arkansas as he prepares for the NFL Draft. Tangelo is Penn State’s fifth defensive starter to opt out of the game and sixth Nittany Lion player overall to do so.

On the defensive side of the ball Tangelo joins safety Jaquan Brisker, linebackers Brandon Smith and Ellis Brooks and defensive end Arnold Ebiketie. Receiver Jahan Dotson is the only offensive player so far to opt out of the game in favor of his NFL future.

All six opt-outs have been announced over the past two weeks.

Tangelo, much like Ebiketie, gave Penn State an immediate boost on the defensive front via the transfer portal, heading to State College from Duke. Tangelo’s role became even more important following the loss to defensive tackle PJ Mustipher midway through the season. Tangelo would end the year sixth on the team in tackles for a loss but also recovered two fumbles and was a key contributor on several important plays including a chase-down tackle late in Penn State’s Week 3 victory over Auburn.

“To the best fans in college football, thank you for cheering me and supporting me in every game,” Tangelo wrote on Twitter.