Heading into Penn State’s Orange Bowl matchup with Notre Dame, there was plenty of focus on defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton. The former five-star would be needed to step up in the pass rush if Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Abdul Carter was limited with a shoulder injury that he suffered in the Nittany Lion’s Fiesta Bowl win over Boise State in the CFP quarterfinals. Dennis-Sutton made one of the biggest plays in the game against the pass, but not how many would have expected.
One play after Penn State tied the game at 17 in the fourth quarter, Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard looked to float a pass over the 6-foot-5 Dennis-Sutton, who had surprisingly dropped into coverage, but the junior made a ridiculous interception to flip the field and give the Nittany Lions the chance to take the lead.
Dani Dennis-Sutton is a great pass rusher AND has these ball skills?😳
— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 10, 2025
These Penn State DE's are built in a lab
pic.twitter.com/F79IJhQpbs
Dennis-Sutton’s interception set up Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton’s third touchdown of the game, which gave Penn State a 24-17 lead. However, as quickly as the lead was built, it disappeared when Leonard answered with a 54-yard touchdown pass to slot wide receiver Jaden Greathouse.
It was Dennis-Sutton’s first interception of his career as the talented edge rusher continues to emerge as a star opposite Carter. When Carter leaves for the NFL this spring as a presumptive top-10 draft pick, Dennis-Sutton will be leaned on as the No. 1 disruptor along the Nittany Lion’s defensive line. On the season, Dennis-Sutton has 6.5 sacks and 36 total tackles.