STATE COLLEGE – With star edge rushers Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac off to the NFL, Penn State defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton could be the next big thing for the Nittany Lions.
Coach James Franklin highlighted Dennis-Sutton’s improvement year over year to get to this point in his development where he could and should be Penn State’s top pass rusher.
“He’s gotten better every single year, every single spring – his intensity every single day in practice,” Franklin said.
“He’s 270 pounds. He’s extremely physical. I think he’s going to have a really big year for us. He understands how to play the position. He’s played a ton of football for us already. We need him to take a step this year and from everything we’ve seen so far, I think he will.”
“There’s just such a physical aspect to his game in everything – in pass rush, in run defense, in block destruction. And then, he’s got such a motor. You’ve seen him chase plays down. He just plays the game the way you want it played. He’s had a really nice spring and I don’t think that would surprise anybody because really, he came in not like a freshman and he’s continued to do that kind of along his journey.”
Dennis-Sutton played in all 13 games this past season – recording 26 total tackles (17 solo), six tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Coming off a third-team all-Big Ten selection, the 6-foot-5 junior seems poised to step into a starring role for the Nittany Lions this season.
“One of my biggest things last year was just emphasizing my pad level,” Dennis-Sutton said. “I was already a strong guy, but a lot of times, I would get caught in a wrong position because I was so high. So, this whole offseason, I was just emphasizing my pad level and I also did some MMA things to help with my hands and precision and things like that.”
This spring camp, Dennis-Sutton and the rest of the defense have had to adjust to new defensive coordinator Tom Allen and his scheme.
While Allen’s aggressive mentality doesn’t differ much from his predecessor Manny Diaz, an important aspect of Allen’s coaching philosophy and installing concepts has been emphasizing the why behind it.
“He’s definitely big on why,” Dennis-Sutton said. “Every day, we have our core values.
“He calls on players and things like that in our meetings and makes the players list our core values – effort, tackling and toughness. Coach Allen’s a great leader.”
Not only will Dennis-Sutton be counted on for a more featured role on the field this season, he’s also assuming a larger leadership role, both vocally and by example.
Now in his third year in State College, he admits being a veteran makes that transition easier.
“I would say (my leadership role is) just talking to the younger guys, trying to get on them about extra work and trying to be more vocal,” Dennis-Sutton said.
“Now that I’m one of the older guys in the room, it’s a lot easier. Being a young guy sometimes can be tough, but being an older guy and being in games and things like that, a lot of young guys already respect me. I’m just trying to get them to be better because we’re gonna need them this year, especially with the actual games or whatever.”
With a defensive line that has a good mix of veterans and promising, young talent, having players that have earned the coaches’ trust and being ready to go when their numbers are called is crucial.
“I’m just pulling guys aside, sort of attacking things as soon as they happen instead of letting things linger,” Dennis-Sutton said. “We can’t let young guys keep making the same mistakes.
“They sort of just got on me that when I made a mistake, just get on it and make adjustments.”
Dennis-Sutton won’t be alone on what figures to be a very good defensive line. Sophomore Jameial Lyons showed flashes in 2023 when Robinson missed time due to injury. Zane Durant is a junior now and will be valuable at defensive tackle.
Perhaps the most intriguing and important part of Penn State’s defensive line is Abdul Carter’s move to defensive end from linebacker.
“Abdul’s been looking really good,” Dennis-Sutton said. “He’s adjusting really well. Obviously, he’s a big, physical guy, so he can handle being in trenches and then pass-rushing, we already know what he can do.
“He adds a lot. Everything you’ve seen last year and as a freshman – speed, power, explosiveness.
“He’s just another guy in the room that pushes us to be better and he’s gonna have a big year.”
Saturday, Dennis-Sutton will suit up for his third Blue-White game at Beaver Stadium.
Though it will be fans’ first look at the 2024 team in action, when asked what he hopes to get out of the scrimmage, Dennis-Sutton expects it to be competitive, but ultimately, just another day at the office.
“Competing as always, this whole spring ball has been about competing and we added a lot of guys to the D-line room,” he said. “We have new coordinators and things like that, so we’re just trying to go out there and compete. I don’t know how the spring game is gonna go, but it’s just another practice.”
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