P.J. Mustipher is one of the top ten defensive tackles in the country and, as a result, the rising senior is generating plenty of interest on the recruiting trail. The 6'4.5, 290-pound defensive lineman from Owings Mill (Md.) has a big-time choice to make and, recently, Mustipher caught up with Adam Friedman of Rivals to shed some light on his decision.
Within that interview, Mustipher spotlighted three programs that have surged ahead.
"I would say my relationships at Penn State, Maryland, and Tennessee are the strongest. You could say those three schools are a cut above the rest."
Mustipher also mentions Michigan State, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame in his top tier, though he makes it clear that there is a line of distinction between the programs. Per Rivals, Mustipher has already visited Penn State and looks forward to visiting College Park to check out the Terrapins.
Beyond that, he spoke candidly about his visits to Knoxville.
"This past visit was the first time my mom got to see Tennessee. My dad and I have been there twice already. She absolutely fell in love with it. I got to hang around the players for a night and the next day. They had a big BBQ set up for just my family on the rooftop of the facility. It was a great time down there.
Mustipher's recruitment will be an interesting matter for plenty of programs but, as the season approaches, the staffs at Maryland, Tennessee and Penn State have to be feeling pretty good about their pursuits.
