Penn State defensive end Arnold Ebiketie will not take part in this weekend’s upcoming Outback Bowl against Arkansas and will instead prepare for the NFL Draft.
Ebiketie joins fellow defensive starters Jaquan Brisker, Brandon Smith and Ellis Brooks and star receiver Jahan Dotson as the five Nittany Lions – so far – to have opted out of the game in the past week to focus on their prospective NFL futures. Ebiketie, a redshirt senior, was eligible to return for one more season under the extra year of eligibility granted to all athletes by the NCAA in 2020.
The former Temple transfer turned into a star contributor on Penn State’s defensive front immediately, racking up 62 tackles and 9.5 sacks in addition to two forced fumbles. Ebiketie was a handful for offensive linemen on nearly every snap he played, giving Penn State an impact player in the trenches from day one, leading the Big Ten in tackles for a loss.
“Nittany Nation, thank you for the love and support,” Ebiketie wrote on Twitter. “I can’t begin to express my gratitude fully for the support from the fans. It [has] been an honor to suit up in the Blue & White with this legendary fan base cheering us on.”
Penn State will have a challenge on its hands trying to fill the role Ebiketie played on the Nittany Lions’ defense, but will lean on the likes of Nick Tarburton and Jesse Luketa – who will likely play linebacker as well on Saturday – along with a host of reserve players. Penn State faced an ongoing challenge at defensive end in 2021 following the season-ending injury of presumed starter Adisa Isaac prior to the start of the year.
While Ebiketie will leave Penn State following a short tenure in State College, he will do so having posted one of the more impactful seasons the Nittany Lions have had at the position, and one of the better stories of how the transfer portal can see a players’ future drastically change.
