Penn State defense should be just fine without superstar pass rusher vs. Ohio State

Not many programs could replace the production of Chop Robinson, a first-round NFL draft pick in 2024, and Adisa Isaac, a third-rounder, but Penn State did it with relative ease. The Nittany Lion’s new defensive coordinator Tom Allen simply moved Abdul Carter from linebacker to defensive end, elevated former five-star Dani Dennis-Sutton to a starting role, and immediately had one of the best pass-rushing tandems in college football. Now, their depth is being tested even further, but the well of edge rushers in Happy Valley runs deep. 

While Carter grabs most of the headlines, Dennis-Sutton led the team in quarterback pressures heading into Penn State’s Week 9 win over Wisconsin, and when he went down with a groin injury in the first half, fifth-year veteran Amin Vanover was dominant in relief. Vanover finished the game with five QB pressures and if Dennis-Sutton is unable to play in Week 10 against Ohio State, the Nittany Lions should be just fine along the defensive line. 

In 2023, Vanover was extremely efficient, posting a 23.1% pass rush win rate in limited reps, second best on the team to Carter. The 6-foot-4 248-pound New Jersey native played just 145 snaps in 2023, taking a backseat to Robinson after he transferred to Happy Valley from Maryland in 2022, and once again with Carter’s position change, Vanover was overlooked. Then, when he got his opportunity to play a career-high 40 snaps against the Badgers, he was arguably the best player on the field. 

His impact wasn’t just felt as a pass-rusher, where he’s always been effective. With a slighter frame, Vanover has never been an elite run defender, however, on Saturday night one of his biggest highlight plays was blowing up a Wisconsin run play to allow Jaylen Reed and Dvon J-Thomas to make a tackle for loss. 

Those are the types of plays that great defenses make, the plays that could be the difference for James Franklin finally getting his second win against Ohio State. 

So far in 2024, Vanover’s pass-rush win rate is down and he has just one sack, but he capitalized on his opportunity in Week 9 and that has to give Allen and head coach James Franklin plenty of confidence in their pass-rush heading into a top-5 showdown with the Buckeyes.

The injury bug hasn’t just bitten Penn State with Dennis-Sutton, right tackle Anthony Donkoh, and quarterback Drew Allar all going down on Saturday, it’s in Columbus too. Three weeks ago its loss to Oregon, Ohio State lost starting left tackle Josh Simmons, a bonafide NFL prospect, and coming out of the bye week, backup left tackle Zen Michalski struggled mightily against Nebraska, allowing four pressures before he left the game with an injury in the second half. 

Ryan Day’s team held on for a 21-17 win over the Huskers, but Michalski’s injury forced Ohio State to kick All-American left guard Donovan Jackson out to left tackle and insert Luke Montgomery at left guard. The left side of the line is the biggest weakness on Ohio State’s loaded offense and those injuries in the trenches are more costly than Penn State’s because the Nittany Lions have proven that they can simply turn to a backup edge rusher to take over a football game. 

Franklin’s roster can’t match the top-end talent of Day’s, but depth could be the difference, and players like Vanover, Nolan Rucci at right tackle, and backup QB Beau Pribula have given Penn State plenty of it.

Dennis-Sutton's status heading into Week 10 is still unknown and could be a game-time decision in Saturday. If he is unable to play, it won't just be Vanover seeing an increase in reps. Smith Vilbert played a season-high 28 snaps at defensive end, and true freshman Max Granville, who reclassified from the 2025 class to join the team this fall, played 10.