Penn State’s offseason was all about retaining veterans and bringing in experienced players from the transfer portal to fill holes on the roster. That doesn’t leave much room for the 28-player incoming freshman class to play a significant role in the Nittany Lions’ national championship push.
Still, through injuries and attrition, there will inevitably be opportunities for a few members from the 15th best recruiting class in the country to see the field, and these four, while they aren’t the highest rated recruits, have the best chance of any.
James Franklin’s 2025 class was headlined by highly-rated four-stars Malachi Goodman and Andrew Olesh (who both have five-star ratings at different outlets), but interior offensive line and tight end are both crowded position groups. Even four-star cornerbacks Daryus Dixson and Jahmir Joseph will have a tough time climbing the depth chart in an experienced secondary.
These four players find themselves at the intersection of ability and opportunity, which could have them making the biggest impact on the 2025 Nittany Lions.
Yvan Kemajou was a relatively unheralded four-star recruit in the 2025 class out of Burtonsville, Maryland, but he’s made a big impression since arriving in Happy Valley as an early enrollee in the winter. For what it’s worth, Kemajou earned significant playing time with the “ones” in the Blue-White game and has bulked up to play defensive end for Jim Knowles.
Opposite senior defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State has a serious question mark. The spot is likely to be filled by redshirt freshman Max Granville and sixth-year senior Zuriah Fisher, but there is plenty of room for a true freshman to crack the rotation on the edge.
Last summer, Granville reclassified from the 2025 class to join the program in 2024, and by the Fiesta Bowl, when Abdul Carter went down with a shoulder injury, Granville was next up on the depth chart. Now, this May, Jennings, a four-star edge rusher from Princeton, West Virginia, reclassified from 2026 to 2025, and he may follow a similar trajectory.
Expect Jennings to redshirt, but if there are injuries on the edge, he could join Kemajou as an impact player for the Nittany Lions.
Penn State completely overhauled its wide receiver room after the disastrous end to last season, adding three senior transfers: Kyron Hudson, Devonte Ross, and Trebor Pena. Still, there will be opportunities for young players to see the field, and reportedly, Howard has been the most impressive of the freshman group. He’s a field stretcher with breakaway speed, a skillset that Penn State has been sorely lacking throughout Drew Allar’s first two years as the starter, so Andy Kotelnicki may find a way to get him on the field.
Like defensive end, safety, and even tight end, defensive tackle is a position where Penn State has one entrenched veteran and a bunch of young players vying for playing time behind him. At defensive end, it's Dani Dennis-Sutton, at safety, Zakee Wheatley, and Khalil Dinkins is the elder statesman amongst young tight ends. For the interior defensive line, senior Zane Durant will set the standard for the rest to follow.
Redshirt freshman Xavier Gilliam figures to start alongside Durant with veteran Alonzo Ford Jr. as a primary backup, but a defensive tackle rotation better be more than just three deep. That could be where Adirika comes in. He’s already up to the weight he’ll need to hold up against Big Ten offensive linemen and could be a candidate to burn his redshirt.