Penn State DT Zettel using mixed martial arts to gain an edge

STATE COLLEGE - Throwing a haymaker is normally frowned upon in football, and unless you're Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, kicking isn't usually used to dominate an opponent, either.

But those skills, along with a combination of other training methods, have given Penn State senior defensive tackle Anthony Zettel an edge.

Zettel, who has racked up seven tackles for loss and three sacks through three games this year, is using his high motor, flexible hips and swift hands to get by offensive linemen and into the backfield.

Zettel is a naturally gifted athlete, but those abilities were enhanced, starting 2 years ago when the 6-4 defensive difference-maker began to train in mixed martial arts with 24-year veteran Bruce Lombard.

Lombard, who has practiced MMA since 1990 and began coaching it in 2001, operates a 4-year-old program called "MMAFx," specifically designed for football players to improve conditioning, footwork, arm speed and more.

Lombard has had success; he trained former Penn State offensive guard John Urschel and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones before both were selected in the 2014 NFL draft.

Lombard acknowledged that players such as Zettel are already "big, strong and fast" at the collegiate level. He's not going to turn a good college football player into a phenomenal one.

But with many players possessing similar skills, gaining even the slightest competitive advantage becomes more critical. That's what Lombard focuses on.

"He was already a gifted athlete," Lombard said of Zettel. "We were just trying to give him a little more."

Zettel, who worked with Lombard 3 days a week in the springs of 2012 and 2013, focused on boxing, kickboxing and wrestling for conditioning, along with footwork and hand-specific drills to increase quickness in both areas.

Penn State coach James Franklin has taken note of those abilities.

"He's got a tremendous motor. He's got really good quickness. He's really sudden off of the ball," Franklin said at his weekly news conference. "His tenacity is unbelievable."

Lombard said he recognized that from the moment Zettel started his program.

The mentor said that, in his experience, Zettel is the most gifted athlete he's ever worked with, including the two former Lions now in the NFL.

"A guy his size and the conditioning he had, I could compare him to one of our 150- or 130-pound fighters," Lombard said. "The guy can kick his leg up to somebody's head."

Against the opposing offensive linemen, Zettel simply doesn't measure up pound-for-pound. Franklin said that, at 285 pounds, Zettel is big enough, but acknowledged that even other defensive tackles have some weight on him.

Zettel said that because he's giving up 20 or 30 pounds in the trenches, opponents will underestimate him, which is perfectly fine with him.

"I'm not your standard 3-technique [defensive tackle], but I feel like it's an advantage to me," Zettel said.

Watching the Michigan native blow offensive linemen off the ball with precise lateral movements, it's no surprise he feels so confident.

When Lombard has watched Zettel this season, he did notice some things they've worked on. Zettel said that out of everything, his hand quickness has helped the most, especially when it comes to engaging first contact and earning leverage on his opponent.

That swiftness was on display when Zettel needed no more than 2 seconds to get by an Akron guard 2 weeks ago for a sack. Zettel also caused disruption against Rutgers on Saturday, tallying three tackles for loss and a sack.

Scarlet Knights head coach Kyle Flood said Tuesday in his weekly news conference that Zettel is as good as any defensive tackle in the country.

Zettel's success comes back to his combination of skills - an unrelenting motor, nasty lateral movement and dominating paws.

Lombard said Zettel's hand moves won't work all the time. But, with three games as evidence, when they do, it's scary.

"The hands stuff might work one out of 15 plays," Lombard said. "But in football, if you have one or two sacks per game or two or three tackles for loss . . . what a great season you're having."

So far, it's been that and more for Zettel, and it will likely continue.

All he needs is that slight edge.