Following last year’s run to the College Football Playoff Semifinal, James Franklin didn’t just keep most of his roster intact in Happy Valley, he may have improved it. Now, after two more major transfer additions in the spring portal window, it’s championship-or-bust for Penn State in 2025.
Despite winning 13 games last season, Penn State has major unfinished business, and it starts with senior quarterback Drew Allar. The former five-star recruit ended his junior campaign with a back-breaking fourth quarter interception against Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl, but his revamped wide receiver room should help him get that bad taste out of his mouth.
Allar isn’t the only star from Franklin’s loaded 2022 class who is back for their final run at the Big Ten crown. He’ll be joined by Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen, Dani Dennis-Sutton, and Zane Durant, who all could have left for the NFL with Abdul Carter.
The loss of Carter and fellow first-round pick Tyler Warren won’t be easy to overcome, but an early look at the Nittany Lions’ projected depth chart reveals a roster with no holes that should be one of the best in the country. Franklin has never had a better chance to win a national championship than he does heading into Year 12, so the expectations are sky high in Happy Valley.
Offense:
QB:
- Drew Allar, 15, Sr.
- Ethan Grunkemeyer, 17, R-Fr.
- Jaxon Smolik, 14, R-So.
RB:
- Nicholas Singleton, 10, Sr.
- Kaytron Allen, 13, Sr.
- Cam Wallace, 26, R-So.
XWR:
- Kyron Hudson, 11, R-Sr.
- Anthony Ivey, 12, R-Jr.
Slot:
- Trebor Pena, Sr.
- Liam Clifford, 2, R-Sr.
- Kaden Saunders, 7, R-Jr.
ZWR:
- Devonte Ross, 5, Sr.
- Tyseer Denmark, 4, R-Fr.
TE:
- Luke Reynolds, 85, So.
- Khalil Dinkins, 16, R-Sr.
- Andrew Rappleyea, 87, R-So.
LT:
- Drew Shelton, 66, Sr.
- J’Ven Williams, 74, R-So.
LG:
- Olaivavega Ioane, 71, R-Jr.
- TJ Shanahan Jr. 54, R-So.
- Chimdy Onoh, 55, R-So.
C:
- Nick Dawkins, 53, R-Sr+
- Dominic Rulli, 52, R-Jr.
RG:
- Cooper Cousins, 50, So.
- Alex Birchmeier, 63, R-So.
RT:
- Anthony Donkoh, 68, R-So.
- Nolan Rucci, 72, R-Sr.
Even after adding Kyron Hudson and Devonte Ross in the winter transfer portal window, Penn State still needed another reliable pass-catcher; enter last year’s ACC receptions leader, Trebor Pena. Pena fled Syracuse amid an NIL dispute and is the perfect fit in the slot where he will take snaps away from Liam Clifford and Tyseer Denmark. Pena is a massive upgrade, and the entire pass-catching group should be much improved from last season’s disaster with zero catches from wide receivers in the Orange Bowl.
Even with all of his new weapons, Allar may not have to put the ball in the air much until the Nittany Lions face another championship-caliber team. Cooper Cousins will slide into the right guard spot, vacated by Sal Wormley, but otherwise the offensive line is unchanged from last season, and the running back tandem of Singleton and Allen is the best in the country.
The most interesting roster battle on the offensive side is between Anthony Donkoh and Nolan Rucci at right tackle. Donkoh won the job last offseason, but Rucci played exceptionally well in the postseason after Donkoh suffered a season-ending injury against Minnesota.
Defense:
DE:
- Dani Dennis-Sutton, 33, Sr.
- Zuriah Fisher, 36, R-Sr+
- Jaylen Harvey, 44, R-Fr.
DT:
- Zane Durant, 28, Sr.
- Ty Blanding, 39 R-So.
- Kaleb Artis, 58, R-Jr.
DT:
- Alonzo Ford Jr. 50, R-Sr+
- Xavier Gilliam, 54, R-Fr.
- Liam Andrews, 90, R-Fr.
DE:
- Max Granville, 18, R-Fr.
- Enai White, 45, R-Jr.
- Jordan Mayer, 95, R-So.
MLB:
- Tony Rojas, 13, So.
- Dom DeLuca, 0, Sr.
WLB:
- Amare Campbell, Jr.
- Anthony Speca, 40, R-Fr.
Nickel:
- Zion Tracy, 7, Jr.
- King Mack, 16, Jr.
CB:
- A.J. Harris, 4, Jr.
- Audavion Collins, 2, R-Jr.
CB:
- Elliot Washington II, 9, Jr.
- Kenny Woseley Jr. 17, R-Fr.
SS:
- Dejuan Lane, 10, So.
- King Mack, 16, Jr.
FS:
- Zakee Wheatley, 6, R-Sr.
- Vaboue Toure, 21, R-Fr.
Much like wide receiver, linebacker was the only glaring weakness on the defensive side of the ball, and much like with Pena, Franklin brought in the best player available in the spring portal window. Amare Campbell registered 76 tackles for North Carolina as a sophomore last season and will battle Dominic DeLuca for the second starting linebacker spot next to Tony Rojas.
The biggest question mark on the Penn State defensive depth chart is where King Mack will factor in. Mack began his career in Happy Valley before transferring to Alabama for one season. Now, Mack is back and will compete for reps at nickel corner and strong safety with Zion Tracy and Dejuan Lane.