Penn State defensive end Zuriah Fisher, who missed most of the 2022 season due to injury, could also be sidelined in 2024. Fisher suffered an injury during spring drills, a source confirmed. Blue-White Illustrated first reported the news, calling Fisher’s injury “significant” and that it could impact his 2024 season.
Fisher, a fifth-year senior, returned to the Penn State football lineup in 2023 to become a key contributor on the defensive line. Fisher played in all 13 games last year, including a season-high 46 snaps against Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl. Fisher made one of his 3.5 sacks of the season against Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart.
With Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac in the NFL, Penn State expected Fisher to take on a larger role on the defensive line. Strength coach Chuck Losey said in February that he was “really happy” with the way Fisher responded to the Nittany Lions’ competitive slot at defensive end. Fisher had positioned himself to join a four-winger rotation with Abdul Carter, Dani Dennis-Sutton and Amin Vanover. Penn State coach James Franklin praised Fisher last October for continuing his career arc.
“To me, he’s what everyone looks for at defensive end,” Franklin said. “He’s got the ability to be disruptive. He’s got the size. He’s got the length. He’s got the athleticism. He’s really had a smile on his face since he got here. He’s had some personal adversities, challenges and setbacks, probably more so than most. , and continues to find ways to be successful.”
Penn State recruited Fisher out of Aliquippa High as a linebacker before moving him to defensive end. Fisher did not play during the 2020 season and appeared in eight games in 2021.
In 2022, Fisher suffered a preseason injury that kept him off the field for most of the year. He returned in November to play against Maryland and Rutgers. Franklin has said that he is a “big fan of Zuriah Fisher.”
“We always thought he had a chance to become a defensive end,” Franklin said. “He already had the size. We made that change with his blessing and support, and (he) really started doing great things. Then (Fisher) suffers an injury (in 2022), a pretty major injury, he misses some. It’s time to that, and he just continues to undermine it and continues to get better and better, both mentally and physically in terms of understanding how to play the (defensive) line.
“It was new for him to understand the scheme. And he’s one of those guys, to me, that’s a really good example for a lot of guys in the locker room. He’s one of those guys that’s barely getting, like, 1 percent.” . better, 1 percent better, 1 percent better. And it may not catch your attention, but he keeps getting better, and now he’s making plays for us and doing his job. here at Penn State and after that.”
Penn State opens the 2024 season on Aug. 31 at West Virginia. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET on FOX.
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AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinions and perspectives on the SI.com Network. Editor Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, following three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich.
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