Ranking Penn State football’s best players: Nos. 10-6
Which Penn State players are going to be counted upon to lift the program to its lofty aspirations this season? Our list continues, here:
Top Penn State football players: Nos. 10-6
No. 10 – Dani Dennis-Sutton
Dani Dennis-Sutton, as a late arrival for the Class of 2022, felt like his impact might come at a slower trajectory from the onset. He proved that notion incorrect and did so quickly.
Playing in every game, he was a true freshman All-American at ESPN by collecting 17 tackles, 3.0 sacks, three quarterback hurries, an interception, and a pass breakup. And, as the season progressed, his pass-rushing performances got better. By the Rose Bowl, he forced three quarterback pressures in the win over Utah.
Now, he’ll be a key component of Penn State’s expectations for a dominant defensive end group.
No. 9 – Kaytron Allen
Not often are 867 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns a second-place effort for a true freshman. But, playing alongside Nicholas Singleton, that’s how Kaytron Allen’s debut with the Nittany Lions ended in the stat book.
In the minds of Penn State’s coaching staff, though, Allen is hardly a second fiddle. His presence is an essential part of the formula for what offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich described as the “heart and soul” of the offense in the backfield.
Providing a change of pace to Singleton, Allen is poised to build on his honorable mention All-Big Ten season.
No. 8 – Theo Johnson
Despite Theo Johnson’s missed spring from the practice field, Penn State head coach James Franklin could not have been more clear earlier this month about his expectations for the tight end. Coming out of a third season in the program in which he notched four touchdown receptions to go along with 20 catches and 328 yards, Johnson is the guy in a remarkably talented room.
He’s adding leadership to his repertoire in a rapidly growing resume that extends through both the field to off the field. Given the opportunity to connect with a first-year starter at quarterback in Drew Allar, Johnson is poised to have his biggest season as a Nittany Lion.
No. 7 – Abdul Carter
No one is mistaking Abdul Carter ahead of his follow-up effort to a sterling debut as a Nittany Lion. He finished with 56 tackles in 13 games. That included just two snaps in the opener at Purdue thanks to a targeting ejection in the first half.
Still, his 10.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, four pass breakups, and five quarterback hurries offered a statistical representation of the havoc he causes on the field from play to play. For defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, Carter represents a weapon that can change the game in an instant through his dynamic playmaking.
No. 6 – Curtis Jacobs
The 2022 season didn’t start as productively as Curtis Jacobs might have liked, switching from the Sam to the Will. Along with Carter’s emergence, though, Jacobs found his stride in the second half of the season.
His 11 tackles in the win over Minnesota were a season-high. And, he finished with strong performances against Rutgers in November and again at the Rose Bowl. On the season, he notched 52 tackles. They went along with 7.5 TFL, four sacks, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, two passes broken up, and a touchdown on an interception return.
Now entering his fourth season as a Nittany Lion, Jacobs is expected to shine.
Tomorrow, we’ll continue our list counting down Penn State football’s Top 25 players.
The post Ranking Penn State football’s best players: Nos. 10-6 appeared first on On3.
