One of Penn State football’s best players played this past Saturday against Ohio State but was limited due to injury, and per Coach James Franklin, his health has been progressing this week.
Defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton, who suffered an apparent groin injury in Penn State’s 28-13 win at Wisconsin Oct. 26, didn’t practice the Wednesday of the Ohio State game and only played five snaps Saturday.
But he practiced this Wednesday, which was encouraging, and the update Franklin gave following practice was also encouraging.
Franklin said that Dennis-Sutton’s health this Sunday was improved relative to the previous week and that “having him back would be big.”
James Franklin said Dani Dennis-Sutton felt better this Sunday than he did the previous week. “Having him back would be big.”
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 6, 2024
DENNIS-SUTTON’S IMPACT
Dani-Dennis Sutton celebrates a first quarter sack.
So how important is Dennis-Sutton to Penn State? The answer is: very. Dennis-Sutton is a player many project as a first round 2025 Draft pick. The 6-foot-5, 266-pounder has been a force on the EDGE for the past several seasons, and has lived up to his five-star hype thus far.
Without Dennis-Sutton, Ohio State, which had its own issues with offensive line health, ran the ball well against Penn State and did it by running to the outside. Quinshon Judkins (14 carries, 95 yards) and TreVeyon Henderson (10 carries, 54 yards) did their thing. Would Dennis-Sutton have limited them? Who knows. But Dennis-Sutton didn’t become an all-Big Ten performer on accident.
WINDING DOWN
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Dani Dennis-Sutton
Dennis-Sutton will want to be a full-go for this one for a lot of obvious reasons. One of them is the fact that he probably doesn’t have much time left as a Penn State football. Although nothing is confirmed yet, Dennis-Sutton, based on his draft projections, seems likely to declare for the draft. Penn State has two home games left, and Saturday against Washington could well be Dennis-Sutton’s last chance to play in a White Out.
James Franklin and Penn State are scheduled to play Washington at 8 on Peaccock.
