You could argue that Penn State’s front court, comparatively weaker than its “best backcourt in the country,” has inhibited the team from making the jump from a below average Big Ten squad to a contender for a spot in the NCAA tournament.

Now, the front court may actually become a position of strength with the granting of immediate eligibility to 7-foot center Jordan Dickerson, a sophomore transfer from Southern Methodist University. The Brooklyn, NY, native, who had originally been slated to sit out the entire 2013-2014 season due to NCAA transfer rules, can now play as soon as tomorrow against in the Nittany Lions’ non-conference finale against Mount St. Mary’s, a game that will also feature the Penn State debut of sophomore guard John Johnson, a transfer from Pitt.

Penn State’s front court is currently led in scoring (11.6 points), rebounds (8.6), assists (1.3), and steals (0.6) per game by Ross Travis, a 6-foot-6 forward, who is more of a perimeter than post defender. In addition, forwards Brandon Taylor (10.8 points per game) and Donovan Jack (7.3 points per game), outside shooters and mediocre post defenders both, contribute 1.5 blocks per game and 2 blocks per game, respectively.

Dickerson, a true post defender, will be eligible for both the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons following the Nittany Lions’ current campaign, ensuring that Penn State will have a legitimate big man for the foreseeable future. In his one year as a true freshman at SMU, Dickerson accumulated 13 points, 23 rebounds and nine blocks in 92 minutes of play over the course of the Mustangs’ 2012-2013 season.