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2025 Penn State Football Predictions: Nittany Lions Ranked 7th in RJ Young's Ultimate 136
College Football 2025 Penn State Football Predictions: Nittany Lions Ranked 7th in RJ Young's Ultimate 136 Published Aug. 10, 2025 8:56 p.m. ET share facebook x reddit link This isn't your average college football ranking. My Ultimate 136 is a set of rankings that is fluid, but it's my job to look ahead and make a claim for all FBS teams based on what I know and why I know it. Here are the three pressing questions I started by asking when putting together this list: Who do I think is good? Why do I think they're good? What are the chances they will finish above or below my expectations? Here is a look at where Penn State lands in my Ultimate 136. Penn State ranking: 7 Last year's ranking: 14 Top player: DE Dani Dennis-Sutton: Finished tied for fifth in the Big Ten in tackles for loss (13) and tied for sixth in sacks (8.5); also forced two fumbles and recorded 42 total tackles. [Penn State's 2025 schedule] RJ's take: As I wrote last month, James Franklin will have the core of his 2024 team ready and willing in 2025. Quarterback Drew Allar, running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen and linebacker Dani Dennis-Sutton hope to lead the Nittany Lions back to the College Football Playoff after falling just seconds short of earning the chance to play for the national title. ADVERTISEMENT A total of 14 starters return this season, while the best defensive coordinator in the country, Jim Knowles, arrives after helping lead Ohio State to a national title last season. He joins offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, who is entering a year when he'll have talented wideouts on the perimeter. That's fine. But I can't really take this team seriously to win a national title. And that's about Franklin, who is 0-7 against Ohio State and Michigan over the last four years and 1-15 against AP top-five opponents. You'll see Penn State ranked No. 1 almost everywhere else, but you won't see an argument for why outside "they're due." So is the rent. One is getting paid this January come hell or high water. And unlike Penn State, my checks don't bounce. [Check out RJ Young's Ultimate 136 College Football Rankings here] Penn State Win Total Odds: Over 10.5 (+104) Under 10.5 (-128) Have an issue with my rankings? Think your alma mater is too low, or your school's rival is too high? Get at me on X, @RJ_Young , and I'll select my favorite tweets and respond to them in a future article. RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports. Follow him at @RJ_Young. FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience College Football Penn State Nittany Lions share
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27-04-2025
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Penn State football 2026 NFL Draft prospects: An early look at where Drew Allar may land
Penn State football is preparing for its most anticipated, star-studded season under head coach James Franklin. The Nittany Lions are expected to be a top-five preseason team, make it back to the College Football Playoff and contend for a national title. Advertisement Even more? They could bring a possible record-setting contingent to next year's NFL Draft. That should include another couple of first-round picks. For comparison, Penn State earned eight draft picks twice under Franklin, including in 2024. They landed five picks in this year's NFL Draft that ended Saturday evening, including first-rounders Abdul Carter and Tyler Warren. The Lions' seven-round record: 10 draft choices back in 1996. Here's why their 2026 NFL Draft could challenge that. A way-too-early look at next April in Pittsburgh: Drew Allar #15 of the Penn State Nittany Lions attempts a pass before the game against the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Beaver Stadium on December 21, 2024 in State College, Pennsylvania. Penn State football 2026 NFL Draft prospects Drew Allar, quarterback, senior Drew Allar has everything, physically, to be a first-round draft pick quarterback: great size (6-foot-5, 235 pounds), tremendous arm strength and ever-increasing mobility. He's also been a careful, accurate passer, owning the school record for completion percentage (62.9). Advertisement Can he make the step into a big-game QB extraordinaire? If he becomes a difference-maker at the end of his toughest games, there may be no stopping his draft rise into the top-five. He's the early No. 1 overall pick in this early draft projection and lands in the first round in most others. Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, senior MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 09: Dani Dennis-Sutton #33 of the Penn State Nittany Lions forces a fumble against Steve Angeli #18 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second quarter in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on January 09, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) An injury slowed his national breakout season last year, but Dani Dennis-Sutton finished strong, as hoped. Now, he's sitting on an All-America campaign and potential first-round draft status. His size and power are nearly unmatched at one of the most highly-valued NFL positions. He should be Penn State's next elite pass rusher, following Abdul Carter, Chop Robinson, Odafe Oweh and Micah Parsons — all first-round picks. Advertisement This mock draft has him going to the Pittsburgh Steelers as the No. 20 pick overall — and three other Lions going in the first round. Nick Singleton, running back, senior Penn State running back Nick Singleton (10) carries the ball during the Blue-White game at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in State College. The White team defeated the Blue team, 10-8. Nick Singleton can become Penn State's all-time leading rusher this coming season. The talk from him, and new running backs coach Stan Drayton, is attempting to add more open-field elusiveness to his big-play running style. Hitting another growth level could push him into first-round draft territory, as well. Kaytron Allen, running back, senior Penn State running back Kaytron Allen (13) carries the ball during the Blue-White game at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in State College. The White team defeated the Blue team, 10-8. This punishing, co-starting tailback also could potentially top Penn State's all-time rushing list as a senior. Advertisement Kaytron Allen should team with Singleton to form the top running back duo in the nation. And if he continues to improve as a receiver and stay healthy, he should be a Day Two pick in Pittsburgh. Zane Durant, defensive tackle, senior Senior defensive tackle Zane Durant may be one of the top defensive tackles in the nation this fall. He often played like that last season and seemed underappreciated in Penn State's Top 10 defense. He's improved his playmaking in the backfield each season, to go along with a sturdy presence up front against the run. He's a strong second- or third-round draft projection, at this point. Zakee Wheatley, safety, redshirt senior Penn State football players, including safety Zakee Wheatley, center, walk down Curtin Road outside Beaver Stadium before the Blue-White game on Saturday, April 26, 2025, in State College. Zakee Wheatley grew from a starter-quality safety into a national-grade playmaker by the end of last season. Advertisement In his last performance, against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff, he registered 16 tackles — the most by a Penn State defender in a bowl game in 45 years. The senior expects to grow on that 2024 season, which featured three interceptions, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Nick Dawkins, offensive lineman, redshirt senior+ Nick Dawkins starred as a first-time starting center in 2024 and will anchor one of the nation's top offensive lines. After Saturday's Blue-White Game, coach James Franklin called him one of the best leaders he's ever coached. Drew Shelton, offensive lineman, senior Drew Shelton accounted for himself well as a first-time starter last season at left tackle. He would have earned a draft-eligible grade this year, if he would have chosen to leave. Advertisement Instead, he will team up with Dawkins to help form one of the nation's top offensive lines. Vega Ioane, offensive lineman, redshirt junior Penn State head football coach James Franklin greets offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane (71) during a NCAA football game against Delaware Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in State College, Pa. Vega Ioane may be the most athletic member of Penn State's star-studded offensive line — and the one with the most NFL Draft upside. He could push toward a first-round grade, which may help him leave PSU with a year of eligibility remaining. Nolan Rucci, offensive lineman, redshirt senior An intriguing draft possibility after starting just six games last year, his first at Penn State. But the former high school All-American finally began to grow into his enormous potential and should lock down that right tackle job early on. A.J. Harris, cornerback, junior The former five-star recruit who started his career at Georgia enjoyed a stellar 2025 with the Nittany Lions. Advertisement This season could be his time to garner national recognition, he is that talented. If so, he could leave early for the NFL, like Ioane. Penn State football NFL Draft picks 2024 Round 1, Pick 3: Abdul Carter, EDGE, New York Giants Round 1, Pick 14: Tyler Warren, tight end, Indianapolis Colts Round 3, Pick 82: KJ Winston, safety, Tennessee Titans Round 6, Pick 187: Jaylen Reed, safety, Houston Texans Round 6, Pick 201: Kobe King, linebacker, Minnesota Vikings Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState. This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Penn State football 2025 roster: Early look at its top NFL prospects
