The Nittany Lions could feature a pair of senior defensive end starters in Pete Massaro and Sean Stanley, but the competition for spots in the rotation will be fierce among several underclassmen. Redshirt freshman Anthony Zettel has made substantial improvement during his first year at Penn State and should be in the mix to earn time in the rotation. Zettel and classmate Deion Barnes were listed as the top candidates behind Massaro at one of the end spots after spring practice. A prep all-state selection in Michigan, Zettel brings good size, skills and strength to the defense and will look to challenge for significant time during his first season on the field. Zettel is among four returning Nittany Lions from Michigan.
2011 Season
Redshirt season.
High School
Zettel was a first-team all-state selection as a senior for Coach Andrew Pratley at Ogemaw Heights High School. As a senior, he recorded 82 solo tackles, 25 assisted tackles and dropped the quarterback in the backfield seven times. Zettel received a four-star rating from Rivals.com and was the nation's No. 6 prep defensive end. He was captain of the basketball team and played baseball. Zettel also was a standout in the shot put, throwing a toss of 61 feet, 8 inches to set a Michigan high school state record.
Personal
Full name is Anthony Joseph Zettel. He is the son of Terry and Carrie Zettel. He has two brothers, Kyle and Easton, and one sister, Jenna. He enjoys outdoor sports, fishing, spending time with friends, dancing and singing. Zettel is interested in a career as a strength and conditioning coach or a chiropractor. Born August 9, 1992 in Tawas, Mich.
