Latest news with #DaniDennisSutton
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6 days ago
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Top 25 Player Profile, DE Dani Dennis-Sutton
Last year, Dani Dennis-Sutton was part of one of the most dynamic edge-rushing duos in the entire country. Along with Abdul Carter, the both of them wreaked havoc on the Big Ten and then all the way to the CFP semifinal. Unfortunately, Carter did not get to the championship stage in his final year as a Nittany Lion. This year, now having the edge all to himself, Dennis-Sutton has the opportunity to rewrite his own narrative and not just follow in Carter's footsteps, but overtake them and potentially even get out from under his shadow as well. Here is how Dennis-Sutton's final season could turn out. 2024 in Review Even with Abdul Carter as the hero of the defense last year, Dani Dennis-Sutton was the perfect sidekick. In a career year, he contributed 42 tackles, 13 for loss, 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one interception, one fumble recovery, three pass breakups, and nine QB hurries. His sack totals were enough for sixth in the conference and his TFL totals saw him fifth. To top it all off, he received the accolades worthy of his performance, getting selected as an All-Big Ten honorable mention. This year, Dennis-Sutton is primed for an electric encore, wanting to prove that he is more than just a sidekick. Now the main man on the edge, look for Dennis-Sutton to dominate in situations where he must generate pressure himself. While he almost certainly does not not have a chip on his shoulder, week in and week out, he will play like he does. Penn State fans should be getting their popcorn ready for what Dennis-Sutton is about to do. Biggest Question for 2025 While not specifically concerning Dennis-Sutton himself, one glaring question Penn State must answer is who will emerge opposite him on the other edge? While Zuriah Fisher is the presumptive starter as a redshirt senior, the Nittany Lions might want to look at the young depth they have at the position as well. While it would be great if Dennis-Sutton achieved last year's stats by himself this year, it would be fantastic if they found him not only a perfect running mate, but someone who can aptly fill his shoes after he departs. Penn State's M.O is to keep churning out stellar edge talent, and this year will be no different. On another note, a more personal topic concerning Dennis-Sutton stems from his snub from the preseason All-American squad and whether or not he felt slighted by it. While Zane Durant, after a breakout campaign last year, was the lone representative from the Nittany Lion defense, many felt that Dennis-Sutton deserved that praise as well, if not more so . Like I mentioned, Dennis-Sutton will always play as if there's a chip on his shoulder and if he plays that way over a 16 game season, I guarantee you that every Big Ten team will have to watch out. 2025 will be a success if... Dennis-Sutton steps out of Abdul Carter's shadow and is the main man for the Penn State defense. Zane Durant may be the preseason All-American this time, but everyone knows who will be the overwhelming leader on that side of the ball. Dennis-Sutton's high motor will give this defense the energy and intensity it needs sans Carter, and perhaps it won't even miss a beat. Another asset that Dennis-Sutton brings to the table as the new leader of the defense is his all-encompassing talents, not just as a pass-rusher, but making plays in the run game as well. While he may not be known for his explosiveness, his instincts more than make up for it. Look for Dennis-Sutton to maybe even eclipse some of his stats from last year. He really may just be a do-everything man for the Nittany Lions this year. But that might be just the way he wants it. 2025 will be a disappointment if... Dennis-Sutton looks lost without Carter, the defense lacks trust in his leadership abilities, and most importantly, it leads to failures in their championship aspirations. There will certainly be a lot of pressure for Dennis-Sutton to deliver, especially on the biggest stages. Penn State fans more importantly know what's at stake as well and may turn to frustration and anger if the defense can't hold up their end of the bargain. It also not just about Dennis-Sutton, but his younger teammates who want to step into his role as the future of the team. He must show them what it takes to be an elite edge rusher, and thus, that could lead to Dennis-Sutton's own frustrations. While Dennis-Sutton's goals are there for the taking, all he has been through to even get to this point in his career will test him mightily. Either he is everything Penn State coaches, fans, and teammates think he is to be, or he is someone who didn't take their chance to be a star. Right now, Dennis-Sutton seems as if he's on the right path. It could all unravel quickly though if he's not up to par. Realistic Outlook for 2025 Dennis-Sutton's expectations for himself and for the squad are mighty high, so expect Dennis-Sutton to do whatever he can to help both causes. While last year's stat line was good enough then, it may not satisfy Penn State fans this season. It's one thing to be a stellar sidekick in a season in which you overachieve. It's quite another to have to fill someone's shows in one of the biggest years in your school's history. Dennis-Sutton has a chance to do something his predecessor couldn't: win a national championship. He must take that chance in order to be remembered even more fondly by the fanbase. Should Dennis-Sutton play the way we know he can, there should be no reason for any slippage from this defensive unit. It's whether he can handle the immense pressure that comes with expectation that remains to be seen. This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Previewing Dani Dennis-Sutton's 2025 Season
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6 days ago
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Top 25 Player Profile, DL Zane Durant
Zane Durant may have gone under the radar at the start of his Penn State career. Now, he is quickly becoming a household name in State College. Earning a starting spot last year on the interior D-line, Durant stood out in a defense loaded with talent. If his 2025 is similar, he could be one NFL scouts will be clamoring over come next April. Here is how Zane Durant's 2025 campaign could look and what it could mean for his NFL draft prospects. 2024 in Review In a defense that included stars edge rushers Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zane Durant somehow stood out as a third option doing his work on the interior. The 6-1, 294 pounder had his best season yet, with 42 tackles, 22 of which were solo, 11 TFLs, three sacks and a pass breakup to boot. Most impressively, he earned the coaching staff's Defensive Player of the Game three separate times, something hard to do with two other stars to contend with. Most importantly though, he gave Penn State a fearsome presence to help shore up their run defense aboth Carter and Dennis-Sutton took care of business off the edge. In 2025, with no Abdul Carter, the pressure is on for Durant to wreak even more havoc up the middle. With the jaw-dropping traits requisite to match a player of DDS' caliber, look for Durant to be on the interior what Dennis-Sutton is on the edge. No Carter should be no problem with Durant at his all-time best. Biggest Question in 2025 What can Durant do for an encore? In a career year, he proved he could play off of two stars and benefit from their success. This year has a wholly different tenor to it however, without Carter's presence. Dani Dennis-Sutton will no double continue to be the star that he is, but can Durant follow suit? The traits: the first step quickness, the explosive movement in a more undersized frame, the impressive motor from the first to fourth quarter: are all there. He must show he can hold out on his own though. There's a reason why he hadn't been able to carve out an immediate role in this squad, and that's his lack of length and somewhat limited pass rush arsenal. Now that Carter's gone, he can't rely on pressure being generated from both sides. He must create his own. Whether or not he can do it remains to be seen, but will be a crucial factor in his growth as a player and how NFL scouts could view him. 2025 will be a success if... Durant simply complements Dennis-Sutton and ultimately proves that he can continuously generate pressure by himself. While he's not the No.1 guy in the front seven, expectations will almost certainly be heightened due to Carter's absence. Every Penn State fan knows what they are getting from Dennis-Sutton, but don't know if Durant can hold up on his own. He truly is a legitimate player with high upside once he gets to the NFL. How he handles a bigger role will be paramount. Most importantly, there may be sometimes where an opposing scheme is more tailored towards Durant's style of disruption. He must show that he can execute that sort of game plan while also being complementary to the depth around him. Overall, Durant does not have to be the second coming of Abdul Carter and he does not need to be. He is his own player with his own style. He must use that style effectively though to continue to have success and build his resume. 2025 will be a disappointment if... Zane Durant fails to have the same presence on the interior as he did last year, and Penn State gets outmatched in the run game because of it. The Big Ten is certainly tailored towards thriving passing attacks, but there are some squads who can gut you up the middle. Minnesota with Darius Taylor and Washington with both Jonah Coleman and Adam Mohammed come to mind. If Durant is not up to par, teams will take advantage of him more often. There will be many more situations where Durant is isolated in space and could be one of the first and last lines of defense. Thus, there are a number of opportunities that could see Durant have to be up to task. If he can't provide energy and efficiency stopping the run game, it could be a detriment to the whole squad and could lead to some shocking upset losses. It is critical that Durant is locked in, or else a potential strength for the Nittany Lions could become one of their biggest weaknesses. Realistic Outlook for 2025 I would not be surprised if Durant's stats jump even more off the page this season. In a role with a lot more freedom from the interior, look fro Durant to especially be the first line of defense in run support. Double digit TFLs yet again this year should be a solid goal to reach for Durant and he could easily get there. It's his draft stock that will be the most intriguing storyline of all. While he does not scream first round pick and maybe not even second, his undeniable attributes stand out on both tape and on the field. If he can continue to put up the elite numbers while honing his skills, then who knows how high Durant could go in next year's draft? This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Previewing Zane Durant's 2025 Season
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24-07-2025
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5 defensive keys for Penn State's 2025 season
For as long as most have been watching Penn State football, the defense has tended to be one of the more stable aspects of the program. What else would you expect from a program that sells itself as Linebacker-U? Despite losing one of the top defensive players in the country to the NFL, the Nittany Lions look to be energized for another strong season in 2025 with lofty expectations placed on the program. A new defensive coordinator, a returning vet with first-round draft outlooks on the defensive line, and one of the nation's top rising young linebackers, not to mention a steady defensive secondary, there are many reasons to expect a good year out of the Penn State defense. Here is a look at some of the keys for the Penn State defense in 2025. Jim Knowles Brings New Energy The arrival of Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator is one of the biggest changes in Happy Valley. Known for aggressive and complex schemes at Ohio State and Oklahoma State, Knowles is expected to bring more pre-snap confusion and smarter blitzes. The challenge is whether his system can be installed quickly and executed cleanly in Year One. Penn State fans will know early on if his unit is clicking. Life After Abdul Carter With Abdul Carter off to the NFL, there's a leadership void in the front seven. Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant are now the veterans who must step up. The pass rush has to remain a strength, but also become more consistent in getting home — especially in big games against top-tier offensive lines. The Defensive Line Must Dominate Stopping the run is priority No. 1. There were moments last season when Penn State got gashed up the middle. The defensive tackles need to anchor better, and the edge defenders must be disciplined in containment. A great defensive line sets the tone, and this one has to be nasty. The Secondary Needs to Flip the Turnover Margin One of the primary complaints about the 2024 defense was that it was unable to produce enough turnovers. That has to change by 2025. Whether that means cornerbacks jumping routes or safeties stripping the ball, the back end needs to give the offense more chances. Keep an eye on KJ Winston and Cam Miller to take the lead. Finish Games Strong Penn State's defense needs to be better at closing. Too many key drives last season slipped away in crunch time. Knowles has to instill discipline and situational awareness so this unit becomes the difference in one-score games, not the downfall. This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: How Penn State's defense can fuel a 2025 championship run
