Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1539550
O C T O B E R 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 Mylachi Williams are also part of the de- fensive end rotation, and true freshman Yvan Kemajou rounds out the group. Those six players — Dennis-Sutton, Fisher, Coleman, Harvey, Williams and Kemajou — comprise Penn State's rota- tion at the edge-rushing spots. Dennis- Sutton is the most experienced mem- ber of that contingent, having started 17 games over the previous two seasons. Given that he's played extensively, in- cluding in some of the most consequen- tial games in recent Penn State history, he sees himself as a role model. "This whole summer, I tried to take them along," Dennis-Sutton said. "Jay- len Harvey and Chaz Coleman, to be specific. I competed with them doing summer workouts, taught them things during spring ball, and then, obviously, we're competing during training camp. "It felt good to see them go out there and make some plays [in the nonconfer- ence season]. Obviously, it's going to take a little bit of learning for them to get out there and be 100 percent comfortable, but I think I did my job as a big brother throughout the offseason to get them ready." Big-Time Moments While all of those players are contrib- utors to the Penn State pass rush, there is no question who's at the top of the list when opposing offensive coordinators sit down to game plan against the Nittany Lions. It's Dennis-Sutton, of course. During Penn State's CFP run last sea- son, he served notice that he was going to be a force in 2025. He had 1.5 sacks in the Lions' playoff opener against SMU and followed it up by setting single-game career-highs with 6 stops and 2.5 tack- les for loss versus Boise State. Against Notre Dame in the CFP semifinals, he was nothing short of spectacular, total- ing 6 tackles, 2 sacks, a forced fumble on a strip sack in the second quarter and a lunging interception in the fourth quar- ter that set up the go-ahead touchdown. The Nittany Lions weren't able to hold onto their lead, but following the season- ending loss to the Irish, Franklin couldn't help but gush about Dennis-Sutton, de- scribing him as "a guy who's really done everything right since he stepped on campus." "To see him be able to make some big plays tonight at critical moments was huge," the coach continued. "He really gave us a chance to go win that game." Despite his strong finish, Dennis-Sut- ton wasn't a fixture on this year's pre- season All-America teams and missed out on some watch lists for postseason awards. Those snubs might come to seem even sillier in the future than they do now. Like the pass rushers who came before him at Penn State, Dennis-Sutton has been impactful throughout his career, but he may have saved his best season for last. If that is the case, he and Penn State are going to be happy with where their campaign goes, and also with where he ends up in next year's NFL Draft. Junior linebacker Tony Rojas was among those who saw it coming, and he's excited about what his teammate will do next. "Superstars like Dani, big-time play- ers, they show up at big-time moments, and that's what the playoffs were for him [in 2024]," Rojas said. "I think he's carried that into this season, and he's worked all offseason on his body. I could see him in the weight room or the train- ing room, just focusing on his body. I think that's been a big thing." ■ Dennis-Sutton came on strong in the College Football Playoff last year. He had 6 tackles including 2.5 for loss — both career-highs — in the Nittany Lions' 31-14 win over Boise State. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL