As the dust settled on Penn State’s Orange Bowl loss to Notre Dame, one moment stood out to me late in the game: Dani Dennis-Sutton, towering at 6-foot-5 and 267 pounds, walking off the field after his athletic interception like a man possessed. It wasn’t just his two-sack, six-tackle, forced fumble, and interception in the bowl game that stood out, but the way he dismantled Notre Dame’s offensive line with precision and ferocity.
As the broadcast panned to Dennis-Sutton on the sidelines after the turnover as he flashed that deep and intense stare in the face of his teammates, only two words came to my mind. “Baba Yaga” (a nod to the John Wick films). In the cinematic universe, Baba Yaga is relentless, calculated, and unstoppable. On the gridiron, Dennis-Sutton embodies those same traits.
Now, the legend of Baba Yaga continues, as Dani Dennis-Sutton announced his return to Happy Valley for the 2025 season, spurning early entry into the NFL Draft for one final year of growth and dominance.
The story continues pic.twitter.com/YKAQSBX4K5
— Dani Dennis-Sutton (@thedanidennis) January 13, 2025
Dennis-Sutton arrived at Penn State in 2022 as a highly touted five-star recruit out of Maryland. While he flashed potential as a true freshman, his growth over the past three seasons has been nothing short of extraordinary. In 2024, he posted career highs with 42 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 4 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles and an interception. Those numbers are a marked improvement from his sophomore season, highlighting his relentless work ethic and dedication to refining his craft.
One of the most impressive aspects of Dennis-Sutton’s evolution has been his durability and increased snap count. Per Pro Football Focus, he played 608 defensive snaps in 2024, up from 445 in 2023. This increase reflects his improved conditioning and ability to impact the game consistently from start to finish.
When I watch film of Dani Dennis-Sutton, my mind immediately draws comparisons to Carlos Dunlap. Dennis-Sutton’s size, athleticism, and playing style give me flashbacks to watching Carlos Dunlap wreak havoc on the AFC North for the better part of a decade. At 6-foot-6 and 285 pounds, Dunlap was a model of consistency throughout his NFL career, using his 35 5/8-inch arms and blend of speed and power to rack up over 100 career sacks. Similarly, Dennis-Sutton’s frame and athletic profile—including his projected 4.68 40-yard dash—make him a disruptive force off the edge.
Like Dunlap, Dennis-Sutton thrives in leveraging his length to control offensive linemen and disrupt passing lanes. His ability to convert speed to power is a cornerstone of his game, and he’s shown flashes of the versatility that could allow him to line up inside or drop into coverage – most recently visible when he climbed the ladder to pick off Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard. However, refining hand usage and developing a full repertoire of pass-rush moves are critical to unlocking long-term success in the NFL.
While Dennis-Sutton is already on the radar of NFL scouts, his decision to return for the 2025 season is a strategic move to elevate his draft stock into first-round territory. Another year under the tutelage of Penn State’s coaching staff will allow him to hone his technique, further developing his hand usage and counter moves to become a more complete pass rusher. Building on his 2024 production will cement him as one of college football’s premier edge defenders, and improving his ability to drop into coverage or shift to an inside role will showcase his adaptability to NFL schemes. The additional year of growth could propel Dennis-Sutton into the upper echelon of edge prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft.
In 2025, Dennis-Sutton will look to finish what he started, cementing his legacy in Happy Valley and sharpening his skills for a long and successful NFL career. As Penn State fans gear up for another season, one thing is clear: the legend of Baba Yaga is far from finished. And if 2024 was any indication, opponents would be wise to tread carefully—because when Dani Dennis-Sutton comes for you, there’s no escape.