STATE COLLEGE — In a split second, PJ Mustipher disappeared.

It’s not often the 6-foot-4, 318-pound defensive tackle gets lost in the crowd. But with Northwestern knocking on the door, looking for life and pushing for a one-score game at Penn State’s 1-yard line, Mustipher became invisible under a collection of bodies. First it was fellow linemen Chop Robinson and Hakeem Beamon falling on top of him. Then it was linebackers Curtis Jacobs, Tyler Elsdon and Abdul Carter.

With Penn State’s undefeated record suddenly on uneasy ground, it was a group effort that stopped the Wildcats short of the end zone on fourth-and-goal. But it was Mustipher at the bottom of the pile, and he was loving every bit of it.

“You have 600, 800, 900 pounds lying on top of you in a rainy, Big Ten game,” Mustipher said after Penn State’s 17-7 win. “And it feels fun.”

Mustipher’s diving stop on Northwestern’s fourth-quarter quarterback sneak was the moment that defined the afternoon. It was wet. It was muddy. It was nasty. But Mustipher’s final tackle kept Ryan Hilinski from crossing the plane and helped secure the Nittany Lions’ 5-0 record entering the bye week.

It was a banner day for Mustipher. He had eight tackles for the second time in his career. The first occasion was against Ohio State in 2020. But Saturday, almost a year to the day since he suffered a season-ending injury at Iowa, felt like a reintroduction.

This is the kind of disruptive player Penn State has on its defensive line. Mustipher, an All-Big Ten selection despite appearing in only six games last year, played like it on Saturday. Penn State held Northwestern’s tailbacks to 2.2 yards per carry, and Mustipher — whether he made the tackle or not — made his presence felt.

The scary thing for opposing offenses is Mustipher still doesn’t feel 100% back from that leg injury.

“I’m close. I’m getting close,” Mustipher said. “There are still things I want to continue to improve on. But I’m getting there. … It’s a day-by-day thing. I don’t know if I’ll be able to play my best football until the end of the season. So if I continue to focus on what I gotta focus on during the week, focus on this team, everything will take care of itself.”

“He continues each week to gain more confidence,” James Franklin added. “Physically, mentally, emotionally, he’s playing really well.”

And so are the guys around him. Beamon, who had back-to-back batted passes in the fourth quarter, and Dvon Ellies are producing. Coziah Izzard is back after missing the first four games. Robinson has been a menace off the edge. Adisa Isaac had three tackles for loss at Auburn. Nick Tarburton had his first career strip sack against Northwestern. Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant are progressing as true freshmen.

There’s plenty to like up front, and Mustipher is in the middle of it all. He takes pride in that.

It wasn’t long ago that the fifth-year senior had to begin a lengthy recovery process. Now, he’s enjoying himself and the defense he’s starring on with a season-shaping stretch against Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio State on the horizon.

“It feels great just to be out with our group and being one of the pieces to this puzzle,” Mustipher said. “When I first got hurt, I couldn’t imagine this because the process was so long. But to be out there with my brothers, they’ve always had my back. I want them to know they can always depend on me just like I depended on them.

“We have a good schedule coming up. But this is what you come to Penn State for. This is what you play in the Big Ten for. We wouldn’t want it any other way.”

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