Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1537537
A U G U S T 2 0 2 5 2 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / S T A F F P R E D I C T I O N S / / / / / / / with the kind of expectations that it will face this year. But unlike in '99 when the Nittany Lions played six ranked opponents, this year's schedule is pretty cut and dry, with Oregon and Ohio State far and away the top two teams on the slate. Sportsbooks currently have Penn State as a small favorite at home against the Ducks and a small underdog against the Buckeyes in Columbus. I think that makes sense. A trip to Iowa looks tricky on paper, but I have Nebraska circled as the team that could offer the opportunity for another ranked win. I think 11-1 is realistic this year, which would get PSU into the Big Ten Championship Game to play for a bye week in the College Football Playoff. Prediction: 11-1 OFFENSE QUARTERBACK No. Name Cl. Ht. Wt. 15 Drew Allar Sr. 6-5 235 17 Ethan Grunkemeyer R-Fr. 6-2 212 14 or Jaxon Smolik R-So. 6-1 213 RUNNING BACK 10 Nicholas Singleton Sr. 6-0 224 13 Kaytron Allen Sr. 5-11 217 WIDE RECEIVER 11 Kyron Hudson R-Sr. 6-1 215 12 Anthony Ivey R-Jr. 5-11 194 WIDE RECEIVER 5 Devonte Ross Sr. 5-10 170 4 Tyseer Denmark R-Fr. 5-10 187 WIDE RECEIVER (Slot) 8 Trebor Peña R-Sr.+ 5-10 186 2 Liam Clifford R-Sr. 6-1 206 TIGHT END 16 Khalil Dinkins R-Sr. 6-4 251 85 or Luke Reynolds So. 6-4 250 LEFT TACKLE 66 Drew Shelton Sr. 6-5 305 74 J'ven Williams R-So. 6-5 316 LEFT GUARD 71 Olaivavega Ioane R-Jr. 6-4 330 63 Alex Birchmeier R-So. 6-5 313 CENTER 53 Nick Dawkins R-Sr.+ 6-4 295 52 Dominic Rulli R-Jr. 6-3 297 RIGHT GUARD 50 Cooper Cousins So. 6-6 311 54 TJ Shanahan Jr. R-So. 6-4 316 RIGHT TACKLE 72 Nolan Rucci R-Sr. 6-8 307 68 or Anthony Donkoh R-So. 6-5 326 DEFENSE DEFENSIVE END No. Name Cl. Ht. Wt. 33 Dani Dennis-Sutton Sr. 6-5 265 44 Jaylen Harvey R-Fr. 6-2 251 99 or Yvan Kemajou Fr. 6-3 250 DEFENSIVE TACKLE 50 Alonzo Ford Jr. R-Sr.+ 6-2 305 54 Xavier Gilliam R-Fr. 6-2 302 34 or Owen Wafle R-Fr. 6-2 295 DEFENSIVE TACKLE 28 Zane Durant Sr. 6-1 294 39 Ty Blanding R-So. 6-1 292 DEFENSIVE END 36 Zuriah Fisher R-Sr.+ 6-3 258 45 Enai White R-Jr. 6-5 264 20 or Mylachi Williams R-Fr. 6-3 252 WILL LINEBACKER 0 Dominic DeLuca R-Sr. 6-1 227 32 Keon Wylie R-Jr. 6-2 225 MIKE LINEBACKER 13 Tony Rojas Jr. 6-2 230 24 Amare Campbell Jr. 6-0 231 40 or Anthony Speca R-Fr. 6-1 227 CORNERBACK 9 Elliot Washington II Jr. 5-11 199 5 Daryus Dixson Fr. 6-0 191 CORNERBACK 4 A.J. Harris Jr. 6-1 191 2 Audavion Collins R-Jr. 5-11 180 BOUNDARY SAFETY 10 Dejuan Lane So. 6-2 212 21 Vaboue Toure R-Fr. 6-1 210 FIELD SAFETY 6 Zakee Wheatley R-Sr. 6-2 200 27 Lamont Payne Jr. R-So. 6-0 190 NICKEL 16 King Mack Jr. 5-10 187 7 or Zion Tracy Jr. 5-11 180 SPECIAL TEAMS PUNTER No. Name Cl. Ht. Wt. 95 Riley Thompson Sr. 6-1 230 99 Gabriel Nwosu R-Sr. 6-6 292 PLACEKICKER (FG) 94 Ryan Barker R-So. 6-2 202 98 Matthew Parker Fr. 6-0 218 PLACEKICKER (KO) 99 Gabriel Nwosu R-Sr. 6-6 292 LONG SNAPPER 48 Tyler Duzansky R-Sr. 6-4 222 HOLDER 95 Riley Thompson Sr. 6-1 230 PUNT RETURNER 5 Devonte Ross Sr. 5-10 170 7 Zion Tracy Jr. 5-11 180 KICKOFF RETURNER 10 Nicholas Singleton Sr. 6-0 224 25 Quinton Martin Jr. R-Fr. 6-1 206 BWI'S UNOFFICIAL PENN STATE DEPTH CHART What They're Saying About Penn State … "The last two years, a veteran laden Big Ten team with key players turning down the NFL has won the national champion- ship. Penn State fits that description per- fectly. Penn State has my #4 QB, #1 RB, #11 REC, #1 OL, #3 DL, #6 LB and #4 DB units. They face Ohio St. on the road, but as the Buckeyes proved last year, making the playoffs is the key, and they are the most talented team in the country and gained good experience winning a pair of playoff games last year." — Phil Steele's '25 College Football Preview "Penn State has the personnel and the coaching staff to win the Big Ten title and to make another deep run in the College Football Playoff. Anything less would be a disappointment. Much depends on the wide receivers." — Lindy's Sports College Football "[James] Franklin has been 'all-in' on building a national championship team at Penn State since 2014. He finally has the horsepower to do it. Athletic direc- tor Dr. Patrick Kraft is willing to fund a contender; he even suggested over the winter that Penn State needed to find another transfer receiver. Every offsea- son move Penn State made hinged on winning a title. This season represents the team's best chance so far under Franklin." — Athlon Sports College Football