Going into the 2022 football season, Nittany Lions Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Penn State roster.
Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for James Franklin this season.
Jordan van den Berg is a great story for Penn State going into the 2022 season as the South African native continues to command respect in his development on the defensive line. While he may not be projected to be a starter in the fall, van den Berg is a player who should have his name called on a few occasions for the Nittany Lions in 2022.
Here is a snapshot look at one of Penn State’s developmental successes in the works.
Preseason Player Profile
Syndication: York Daily Record
Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa
Ht: 6′-3″
Wt: 295 lb
247Sports Composite Ranking
Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
[3 stars] | [No. 22 JUCO overall] | [No. 4 defensive lineman JUCO]
Class in 2021: True freshman
Career Stats
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
| Year | G | Solo | Total | Sacks | TFL | FFs | FRs |
| 2021 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1 | 0 |
Depth Chart Overview
AP Photo/Barry Reeger
The former JUCO first-team All-American redshirted his 2021 season with Penn State by appearing in just four games to preserve the year of eligibility. But his work ethic certainly drew plenty of praise from the coaching staff and is a part of the reason he was used in a bigger role to fill the depth chart in the Outback Bowl against Arkansas. In the Outback Bowl, van den Berg had five tackles as he embraced the opportunity to get some more meaningful playing time.
But in 2022, van den Berg will likely be a player used in a rotation or as a primary backup option behind PJ Mustipher and Coziah Izzard. Along with Dvon Ellies, van den Berg will help provide some reliable options in the middle of the line for defensive coordinator Manny Diaz.
