Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1524108
6 4 A U G U S T 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M / / / / / / / 2 0 2 4 F O O T B A L L P R E V I E W / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / PERSONNEL POSITION COACH Deion Barnes: A Philadelphia native and for- mer Penn State letterman, Barnes is entering his second season as defensive line coach at his alma mater and his fifth year overall with the program after working as a graduate assistant previously. He helped develop Chop Robinson into a first-round draft pick earlier this year, while Adisa Isaac went in the third round. Five of Penn State's defensive linemen earned All-Big Ten honors last season. Barnes brings back many of the players he relied on last season, and he's set to oversee Abdul Cart- er's development following the staff's decision to move him to defensive end. When you add in Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant, Barnes has the opportunity to develop a few more NFL prospects in just his second season at the helm. RETURNING SCHOLARSHIP PLAYERS Defensive Tackle KALEB ARTIS R-So. | 6-4 | 323 • Appeared in all 13 games last season, primar- ily on the field goal unit. • Totaled 40 snaps in four games at defensive tackle. • Had 3 tackles, including a half-tackle for loss, and a quarterback hurry. HAKEEM BEAMON R-Sr.+ | 6-3 | 285 • Has started 18 games for Penn State the past two seasons. • Has 37 tackles in his career, including 9 for loss and 1 sack. TY BLANDING R-Fr. | 6-1 | 286 • Saw action in only one game in 2023 and pre- served his freshman eligibility. • Was a three-star prospect according to the On3 Industry Ranking. • Totaled 46 tackles, including 6 for loss and 5 sacks, along with 17 quarterback hurries dur- ing his senior season at Christ The King High in the Bronx, N.Y. ZANE DURANT Jr. | 6-1 | 290 • Started 11 games as a sophomore in 2023, finishing with 17 tackles, including 5.5 for loss and 2 sacks. • Was the first Penn State defensive tackle to total 3 tackles for loss versus a Big Ten oppo- nent (Northwestern) since 2016. ALONZO FORD JR. R-Sr. | 6-2 | 319 • Transferred to Penn State from Old Dominion in May 2023. • Missed last season with an injury. • Made 25 starts at Old Dominion, totaling 70 tackles, 4 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss dur- ing the 2021 and '22 seasons. COZIAH IZZARD Sr. | 6-3 | 310 • Started seven games at Penn State in 2021 and has appeared in 33 games the past three seasons. • Finished with 16 tackles, including 3.5 for loss and 3 sacks, in 2023. • Has totaled 47 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 7 sacks in four seasons. DVON J-THOMAS R-Sr.+ | 6-1 | 304 • Started eight games for Penn State last sea- son. • Finished with 26 tackles, including 5 tackles for loss, and a quarterback hurry in 2023. • Has 59 career tackles, including 9.5 for loss and 2 sacks. Defensive End ABDUL CARTER Jr. | 6-3 | 259 • Appeared in all 26 games since arriving at Penn State in 2022, totaling 19 starts. • Has amassed 105 tackles, with 16 for loss and 11 sacks, playing linebacker the past two seasons. • Earned second-team All-America honors from Sports Illustrated and a first-team All- Big Ten nod from the coaches in 2023. DANI DENNIS-SUTTON Jr. | 6-5 | 272 • Has appeared in all 26 games with three starts since arriving at Penn State in 2022. • Has totaled 43 tackles, including 9.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks, the past two seasons. • Was a third-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches in 2023. ZURIAH FISHER R-Sr. | 6-3 | 254 • Has appeared in 24 games in his career, total- ing 22 tackles and 3.5 sacks. • Missed most of the 2022 season with an injury but did play in the Lions' last two regular-season games versus Maryland and Rutgers. • Suffered an unspecified injury during spring practice earlier this year and is considered out indefinitely. JAMEIAL LYONS So. | 6-5 | 251 • Appeared in eight games during his true freshman season. • Totaled 6 tackles, including 2.5 for loss and 1 sack, along with a quarterback hurry. JOSEPH MUPOYI R-Fr. | 6-5 | 260 • Did not see action in his first season at PSU, preserving his freshman eligibility. • Was a four-star prospect in On3 Industry Ranking for the class of 2023. MASON ROBINSON R-Fr. | 6-3 | 245 • Did not see action as a true freshman and preserved his freshman eligibility. • Was a three-star prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking for the 2023 class. AMIN VANOVER Sr. | 6-4 | 268 • Has appeared in 29 games dating back to the 2020 season. • Has totaled 29 tackles, including 7 for loss and 2.5 sacks, over the past four seasons. • Posted a 90.2 pass-rush grade on 78 pass- ing snaps last season according to Pro Football Focus. SMITH VILBERT R-Sr.+ | 6-6 | 292 • Missed the 2023 season with an injury. Hakeem Beamon opted to return for one final season at Penn State after making 18 starts the past two years. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL