Penn State DL sets program's all-time squat record ahead of 2023 season
Penn State DL Jordan van den Berg is hoping for a big season with the Nittany Lions this fall. However, he’s already putting up record-breaking numbers in the weight room.
On Friday, van den Berg shared a video on social media revealing he broke the program’s all-time squat record. He set the record with 615 pounds repped 4 times in an unreal display of lower-body power.
I would like to thank God ✝️ for allowing me to BREAK Penn State‘s all-time squat record 615×4 #trustGod pic.twitter.com/4o6SVTJgoj
— Jordan van den Berg (@JordanvandenB12) July 14, 2023
Van den Berg’s journey to Penn State was unique, to say the least. A native of South Africa, van den Berg began his college journey at the JUCO ranks for Iowa Western CC. After limited action for the Nittany Lions in the 2021 season, van den Berg appeared in 13 games a season ago with 9 tackles, 1.5 TFL and 0.5 sacks.
He is listed as a defensive tackle at 6-foot-3 and 292 pounds. With PJ Mustipher off to the NFL, we’ll see if van den Berg can help fill the void in the middle of Penn State’s defense this fall.