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BREAKING: Penn State defensive end Smith Vilbert out for the season

The defense end missed the entire 2022 regular season.

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1 year ago

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Penn State football, Smith Vilbert, West Virginia
Oct 23, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Smith Vilbert (92) prior to the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Penn State defensive end Smith Vilbert is expected to miss the entirety of the 2023 season, it was reported on Sunday. The news, first reported by The Athletic and later confirmed by 247Sports, On3, and others, comes as Penn State football wraps up media day availability on Sunday afternoon.

Penn State football defensive end Smith Vilbert out for the season

On Sunday afternoon, Audrey Snyder of the Athletic first reported that defensive end Smith Vilbert would miss the entirety of the 2023 season due to injury. The news was later confirmed by 247Sports and On3, among others.

Vilbert missed the entire regular season in 2022 due to undisclosed reasons. He did appear in the Rose Bowl in January, but did not record any stats in that game. Smith Vilbert has seven total tackles in his career, including six solo tackles in the 2021 season. Vilbert was a three-star prospect out of the state of New Jersey in the class of 2019.

The injury is a disappointing blow for Vilbert, who expected to be a key rotational piece this season. Of course, the Penn State defensive line will be headlined by standouts such as Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac. The pair combined for 54 tackles, including 9.5 sacks last season. In Vilbert’s absence, many fans will look to rising sophomore Dani Dennis-Sutton to come into his own this season.

*Note: This is a breaking news story, and the information included is subject to change.

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Matt is a co-owner and Editor in Chief of Basic Blues Nation. Launched in 2022, Basic Blues Nation is one of the fastest-growing websites covering all Penn State athletics, with over 3.5 million readers in 2023. Matt is also a credentialed member of the Penn State football beat, and is a member of the Football Writers Association of America.

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