Penn State football is through a quarter of its 2025 season, and it’s time to take a look at who the team’s best players have been through three games, according to Pro Football Focus’ grades.
We’ll break down the top three on offense and defense.
DEFENSE
Grade: 91.5
No surprise here. Dennis-Sutton was the best player on the field in Penn State’s Week 1 game against Nevada, and he didn’t let up during the next two games. DDS has been dominant against both the run (93.3 run defense grade) and pass (80.3 pass defense grade). He also leads Penn State with five quarterback hits and two forced fumbles, with both forced fumbles happening against Nevada.
Grade: 88.7
Coleman was Penn State’s most hyped true freshman coming out of fall camp, and he’s lived up to that hype, if not exceeded it, through three games. Not only has Coleman been one of Penn State’s best players, he’s been one of the best pass rushers in the country, with his 92.9 pass rush grade being tied for fourth. Coleman also leads Penn State with 10 pressures and is tied with Zuriah Fisher for the team lead with seven quarterback hurries.
Simply put, Coleman has been awesome.
Grade: 84.4
Photo by Matt Lynchm, Nittany Sports Now
Last season, Rojas played most of the year on one arm thanks to an injury.
Now, we’re seeing what he can do with two.
Rojas has passed the eye test thus far, and the analytics back up what we’ve seen. He’s been solid in run defense (78.9), tackling (71.2), pass rushing (72.5) and especially, coverage (80.1).
Rojas and Amare Campbell have developed into a dynamic duo at linebacker.
Grade: 79.7
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.This is going to surprise people. Penn State’s starting left tackle is a guy who’s overshadowed even on his own offensive line, with players such as Vega Ioane, Nolan Rucci and Nick Dawkins getting more attention from Penn State fans. But Shelton has been solid since he burned his redshirt as a freshman in 2022, and this year has been no different.
He hasn’t allowed a sack yet in 99 pass blocking snaps, and his efficiency grade of 97.9 is on track to match his career best.
He’s also been getting better every week.
Against Nevada, Shelon bore a dreadful pass-blocking grade of 25.5, giving up three pressures.
The next week against FIU, he had a 68.1 overall grade, only allowing one pressure.
Last week against Villanova? 89.8 grade, no pressures.
Grade: 76.9
Another name that might surprise some people. Granted, Rappleyea hasn’t played a ton of snaps (60) relative to some other players on the list.
But he’s made the most of them and has been one of Penn State’s top run blockers, with his grade being 74.8. Only Ioane has a higher run-blocking grade.
Overall, Rappleyea is still probably Penn State’s No. 3 tight end behind Luke Reynolds and Khalil Dinkins.
But he’s shown himself to be capable of starting for most programs.
Grade: 76.8
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now
Here’s a guy Penn State football fans won’t be surprised to see. Ioane’s No. 1 job is to run block, and he’s done that better than anybody on Penn State per PFF, with a 78.4 grade.
Ioane came into this season as a projected first-round draft pick, and it’s not likely that’s changed.
No. 2 Penn State has its first test of the season Saturday, Sept. 27, against No. 6 Oregon at Beaver Stadium. The White Out is scheduled for 7:30 on NBC.
