Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1472993
A U G U S T 2 0 2 2 2 1 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 1. Adisa Isaac | DE Isaac was being hailed as a rising star even before arriving on cam- pus with the class of 2019. He'll be a redshirt junior this fall, yet the former four-star defensive end prospect has only totaled 3 sacks to date. That's mostly because he hasn't had a chance to show what he can do. He was playing behind the likes of Odafe Oweh and Shaka Toney his first two seasons, and then he suffered an offseason injury last year that forced him to miss what might have been a breakout 2021 campaign. He's healthy again and appears determined to stage that breakout this fall. 2. Jonathan Sutherland | OLB Sutherland and quarterback Sean Clifford are the only players re- maining from Penn State's 2017 recruiting class. During his first five years on campus, Sutherland starred on special teams but made only three starts at safety, the position he was recruited to play. He's now at linebacker and will likely be a Day 1 starter at the Sam OLB spot. 1. Nick Singleton | RB Singleton has wowed onlookers at every turn this offseason. The Gatorade National High School Football Player of the Year in 2021, he won't begin the season as the starter. Don't be surprised, though, if he ends it as the lead back. Singleton has the perfect mix of size and speed, and has tested well. There is not just plenty of buzz, but also a strong expectation that he can contribute in a big way immediately. 2. Landon Tengwall | OG Tengwall is one of the few offensive linemen who have come to Penn State with the tools to be fast-tracked to the field. He can play inside and out but is penciled in at guard for his first time as a starter. The redshirt freshman has the potential to become an All-Big Ten honoree in Year 2. 3. Mitchell Tinsley | WR A standout at Western Kentucky, Tinsley pledged to Penn State on Christ- mas Eve and arrived in January. The senior wanted to be a Nittany Lion be- cause he was impressed by Jahan Dotson's production in blue and white. Now, he's in position to follow in the first-round draftee's footsteps. 4. Kalen King | CB King had 23 tackles in 13 games as a true freshman. He now moves into a starting role, and the sky is the limit. King has great ball skills, plenty of speed and knows how to play physically while not risking penalties. If a Lions de- fender is going to shoot into the national conversation, he's a safe bet to do so. 5. Zane Durant | DT Current senior PJ Mustipher was the last Penn State defensive tackle to make an impact as a true freshman. Durant is next in line to do so. The former four-star recruit tested well and had an elevated role during the Blue-White Game. He'll start out as an oft-used reserve, but don't be surprised if he's seeing more playing time in October than he does in September. — Greg Pickel L A T E B L O O M E R S B R E A K O U T C A N D I D A T E S Five-star freshman running back Nick Singleton will have a chance to make an immedi- ate impact in the Penn State backfield this fall. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL 3. Sal Wormley | OG Like Isaac, Wormley was waylaid by a season-ending injury just as he appeared ready to make a major impact. The redshirt junior offensive guard may finally get that chance this fall. He'll be competing with Cornell transfer Hunter Nourzad in August for the starting right guard spot. 4. Smith Vilbert | DE Vilbert didn't get serious about football until his senior year at St. Joseph's Regional in New Jersey, so it's understandable that he needed time to develop at Penn State. He's now a redshirt junior and is coming off a 3-sack performance in the Outback Bowl that portends good things to come. 5. Hakeem Beamon | DT After seeing action in eight games during the 2020 season, Beamon disappeared last year, missing the season for unspecified reasons. He's back for his redshirt junior campaign and may yet have a role to play as a backup on Penn State's de- fensive line. — Matt Herb