Coziah Izzard Makes Quick Impact in Return to Penn State's Defense

Izzard has a 'chance to be 'special' for the Lions' defensive front, James Franklin says.

Penn State defensive tackle Coziah Izzard made his season debut against Illinois last Saturday after dealing with "bumps and bruises" through training camp and the start of the season. Izzard made a pretty quick impact, racking up a pair of sacks late in the game.

"[He] made some mistakes and things that we gottta knock the rust off with, but overall, I thought he played well," coach James Franklin said in Holuba Hall after practice Wednesday. "It gives us another legitimate defensive tackle inside, which is a position that's challenging to develop depth at. I think he has a chance to be special, just need more reps and more experience."

Izzard met with the media Wednesday for the first time in a while, calling his absence a "personal matter." On the field, Izzard thought his first strike on offensive linemen was good in his debut, while his lateral quickness and jump off the snap could use some work.

“It feels great. It was wonderful. I’m just glad to play this week against Iowa,” Izzard said. “There’s always things that I think I could get better at, just overall, I thought as a defense we played great."

Penn State defensive tackle Coziah Izzard reacts following a tackle against Michigan State in 2022 :: Matthew O'Haren/USA Today Sports

The junior from Maryland, a two-year letter-winner, originally was thrust into action in 2021 after PJ Mustipher’s season-ending injury against Iowa. Izzard should be a big help to the Lions' run defense, especially in the size category. He said he’s up to 300 pounds after playing last season around 285-295, part of a well-documented size increase for Penn State’s linemen. Izzard mentioned he arrived at Penn State around 275 pounds.

“I feel like as a D-line we’re bigger, stronger,” he said. “Over the year, just strength training and eating the right stuff, that got me to where I am right now. This is where I want to stay. No higher than 300. I feel heavier, feel sturdier, feel stronger.”

Iowa retooled its offense after an abysmal showing in 2022, but it’s yet to be seen what impact the run game will have during Saturday's White Out game against Iowa, which currently has rain in the forecast. Penn State got one of its run stoppers back in Izzard, while Iowa will be without second- and third-leading rushers Jaziun Patterson and Kaleb Johnson. The Hawkeyes also lost top tight end Luke Lachey for the season.

“I feel like on film and in games, the weight that we’ve all gained has been shown,” Izzard said. “I feel like it can be shown even more in this next Iowa game.”

The weight-gain trend never became a competition between defensive linemen, Izzard said, though they checked on each other at times to make sure they were at the right weight. Hakeem Beamon and Zane Durant, who both started while Izzard was away, are the two most common names associated with “good weight” this year. Izzard also shouted out a pair of young defensive tackles who have stood out: Kaleb Artis and Ty Blanding. Franklin said before the season that he had five or six defensive tackles he was comfortable with, and that group is finally starting to take shape.

Noteworthy

Starting receiver Tre Wallace, who missed the Illinois game, appears poised to return against Iowa. His return would benefit a passing game that missed his route-running and sure hands for the Big Ten opener. Franklin also suggested that receiver Omari Evans, who has been limited early this season, is moving in a positive direction as well.

More explosive plays? Franklin wants them. Through three games this season, the Lions have nine plays of 20+ yards. Last season that number was 19. "Obviously we've got to be more explosive," Franklin said.

Penn State and Oregon are the only FBS teams that haven't committed a turnover this season. The Lions are plus-7 in turnover margin. Over the past two seasons, Penn State is 9-0 when forcing two ore more turnovers.

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Max Ralph is a Penn State senior studying Broadcast Journalism with minors in sports studies and Japanese. He previously covered Penn State football for two years with The Daily Collegian and has reported with the Associated Press and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Follow him on Twitter (X) @maxralph_ and Instagram @mralph_59.

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