Carolina Panthers get a speedy edge rusher in Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos
The Carolina Panthers needed defensive linemen who could get after the quarterback, and with their first pick in the second round of Friday’s NFL Draft, they think they found one.
Carolina picked up Yetur Gross-Matos, a 6-foot-5, 266-pounder from Penn State. Gross-Matos has 19 career sacks at Penn State, which ranks tenth in school history. His 37 tackles for a loss ranks No. 11.
“When you have a great player such as him, you might not think he has to work hard,” Penn State junior defensive tackle PJ Mustipher told the Centre Daily Times, the Observer’s sister paper in Pennsylvania. “But he is probably one of the hardest workers on this team. He comes to work every day with his mind made up that he’s going to get better. He takes football and what he does very seriously.”
Carolina had the No. 7 overall pick in the draft Thursday and picked Auburn lineman Derrick Brown. Friday, they again chose to bolster a defensive front that was hurt after losing starters Gerald McCoy, Dontari Poe and Vernon Butler.
But where Brown is not known for his pass rushing ability, Gross-Matos is.
As a junior, Gross-Matos had 9.5 sacks, and throughout the draft process, his personal story has become well publicized.
His biological father drowned while trying to save him when he fell off a boat at two years old. Eight year later, Gross-Matos lost his older brother, when he was struck by lightning during a Little League game.
“What I’ve been telling all the people I’ve talked to is his best football is ahead of him,” Penn State coach James Franklin told the Daily Times. “He’s another guy that didn’t get to run at the combine. I think he would’ve run a good time as well. He’s got a very bright future.”
