Penn State football’s defensive line boasted a lot of depth over the last couple years, and it paid off with a step-in star in sophomore Yetur Gross-Matos. The unexpected retirement of Ryan Buchholz left a void in the defense. His size (6-foot-6, 273 pounds) and strength in the trenches would be sorely missed opposite speedy pass rusher Shareef Miller. Instead, Gross-Matos became the unquestioned, all-around star on the defensive line.
It’s not like Gross-Matos didn’t have experience. He played in all 13 games in the 2017 season as a true freshman, so a star-studded career was in line.