As spring ball leads to summer ball, the expectations for Penn State only heighten even further with ESPN naming Penn State the No. 1 team in the country.
ESPNโs Mark Schlabach wrote in his column:
โAfter finally turning the corner under coach James Franklin in 2024, the Nittany Lions look loaded for bear this coming season. With Allar, Allen and Singleton returning, Penn State should have one of the most balanced offenses in the FBS, especially if Allar takes the next step as a downfield passer. Adding Pena, Ross and Hudson was critical; Penn State’s receivers didn’t have a reception in a 27-24 loss to Notre Dame in a CFP semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl. Pena, a slot receiver, had 84 catches for 941 yards with nine scores in 2024.
Ross was one of the top receivers in the portal after hauling in 76 passes for 1,043 yards with 11 scores last season. Penn State’s most important offseason addition might be new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who helped guide Ohio State to a CFP national title last season. He’s the highest-paid coordinator in the FBS at $3.1 million per season.โ
All points are valid.
Penn State addressed every deficiency this offseason by rebuilding their weakest group, wide receivers after a zero catch performance against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff Semifinal, by adding three major addons (Trebor Pena – Syracuse, Kyron Hudson – USC, Devonte Ross – Troy) in the portal.
The return of Allar – who is poised to be the first quarterback selected in 2026 NFL Draft, along with backfield duo of Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton, who are both poised to break Evan Roysterโs career rushing mark with a deep playoff run.
The tight end group is deep. Even losing an impact player like Tyler Warren, who rewrote the Penn State receiving record book, doesnโt have many worrying around State College.ย
When you have a talent in Luke Reynolds, a former five-star who had the pivotal fourth down fake against Minnesota, having experience, along with veteran stewardship in Khalil Dinkins, Andrew Rappleyea – who returns from injury who was touted as a โBaby Gronk,โ and incoming four-star Andrew Olesh there is depth upon depth.
The offensive line was strengthened by the addition of Texas A&M lineman T.J. Shanahan. The factory Phil Trautwein has overseen in his position group has a full two-deep depth chart where quality depth exists.ย
Defensively, EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton emerged into an elite form even when Abdul Carter wasnโt 100%. Dennis-Sutton put on an Orange Bowl for the ages with six tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss, and an interception. Sutton is paired with Texas A&M transfer Enai White and the emerging Max Granville.ย
James Franklin wanted a linebacker in the portal following the Blue White Game, one came from North Carolina in Amare Campbell. Campbell fills the void left by Kobe Kingโs draft exodus and TaโMere Robinsonโs transfer to USC and while Tony Rojas works to be 100% healthy.ย
The secondary is loaded with cornerback A.J. Harris and safety Zakee Wheatley anchoring that are joined with key transfer in safety King Mack, impact freshman Daryus Dixson, along with cornerback Elliott Washington, safety Dejaun Lane, and nickelback Zion Tracy the secondary will be tough for opposing quarterbacks to thread needles through.ย
The crown jewel was acquiring defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. The Nittany Lions significantly upgraded from Tom Allen, who left Penn State for Clemson for the same position, and consider the following the last two times an Andy Kotelnicki offense was held without a touchdown were defenses architected by Knowles (2021 Oklahoma State vs. Kansas; 2024 Ohio State vs. Penn State).ย
While it seems I have regurgitated the same content from my 1994 comparisons column, the point being drove him is Penn State created these massive expectations. This is a very good thing. It is good to be the hunted, Penn State canโt hide from anyone.
Penn State has been ranked every week since their Week 3 matchup against Auburn in 2022 and seven of their eight losses during that span have come against teams ranked in the nationโs Top 5. The only loss not to a Top 5 opponent came in the 2023 Peach Bowl to No. 11 Ole Miss – consider the number of impact bowl opt outs the team had to endure versus what Ole Miss did.ย ย
These accolades will continue to shower Penn State until they kickoff the 2025 season. None should surprise anyone of us because this has been brewing for a long time and soon we should see Franklinโs vision at full fruition.
