Three PSU players, LB Abdul Carter, DE Dani Dennis-Sutton and running back Nick Singleton have been named to ESPN’s true freshman All-America team.
Carter didn’t find a regular role in Penn State’s defense until October, but became one of Penn State’s best players in Year 1.
The product of LaSalle College High School near Philadelphia, finished the season with the team lead in sacks (6.5), tackles for loss (10.5) and finished second in solo tackles (36.) Carter became one of four finalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.
Singleton was probably Penn State’s most notable freshman of 2022. The former No. 1 prep back in the country and 2021 Gatorade National Player of the Year from Governor Mifflin High School in Shillington, Pennsylvania, lived up to the hype. He ended the season with more than 1,000 yards, a 6.8 yards per carry average and 12 touchdowns.
His signature game came in Penn State’s Rose Bowl win over Utah this past Monday. Singleton ran for 120 yards on just seven carries, highlighted by a 87-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. He and classmate Kaytron Allen (867 yards, 10 touchdowns, 5.2 yards per carry), revitalized Penn State’s running game, and Singleton won Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
87-YARD TOUCHDOWN RUN BY NICK SINGLETON. pic.twitter.com/6LIXKk63qr
— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) January 3, 2023
Dennis-Sutton didn’t become a regular starter on Penn State’s defensive line, but did play a role. The former five-star from the McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Maryland, had three sacks, 17 tackles (11 solo) and an interception. Dennis-Sutton was part of a loaded defensive line that featured Chop Robinson, Adisa Isaac, Nick Tarburton, PJ Mustipher and Hakeem Beamon, among others. With Tarburton and potentially Isaac set to leave next season and Dennis-Sutton being another year older, he should have a bigger role on the edge in 2023.
Overall, Carter, Dennis-Sutton and Singleton were big reasons the celebrated 2022 class lived up to the hype in Year 1.
