Dani Dennis-Sutton entered 2025 as Penn State’s veteran tone-setter up front, the rare edge defender who combines five-star traits, three years of game tape, and the credibility of having weathered every high and low in Happy Valley. With Abdul Carter in the NFL and a freshman quarterback now leading the offense, Dennis-Sutton’s voice has become the anchor of the locker room.
Blue-Chip Path to Happy Valley
The Millsboro, Delaware native built his reputation at the McDonogh School in Maryland, piling up double-digit sacks and earning invitations to the Polynesian Bowl and the All-American Bowl. A consensus top-50 recruit, Dennis-Sutton committed to Penn State over Alabama and Georgia because John Scott Jr. and James Franklin pitched him on playing early in a multiple-front defense.
Early Production in 2022 and 2023
Dennis-Sutton flashed his potential immediately. As a true freshman in 2022 he logged 17 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks while backing up Carter and Chop Robinson. His sophomore numbers climbed to 26 tackles, six tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks as he rotated between base end and the stand-up “Alpha” role. Coaches consistently praised his willingness to set the edge and play through contact, even when box-score numbers lagged.
2024 Breakout as the Featured Edge
Once Carter moved to full-time edge rusher, Dennis-Sutton settled in on the opposite side and produced the best season of his career: 24 solo tackles, 18 assists, 13.0 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in 16 games. He saved some of his best work for the postseason, delivering two sacks in the Big Ten Championship and spending the College Football Playoff semifinal living in the backfield. Penn State’s 2024 defense finished top-five nationally in havoc rate, and opponents constantly had to slide protections toward No. 33.
Senior Season Leadership in 2025
Through eight games of 2025, Dennis-Sutton has already stacked 25 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, two pass breakups, and three forced fumbles. The raw numbers matter, but his value is even clearer on film: he is the player setting the front, communicating line stunts, and making sure younger linemen align correctly against tempo offenses. Interim head coach Terry Smith and defensive coordinator Manny Diaz have both leaned on Dennis-Sutton as the tone-setter for a defense that has been forced to carry the team after Drew Allar’s injury.
Projection Beyond Penn State
Scouts love the package: 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, 34-inch arms, and a first step that can threaten the outside shoulder of most Big Ten tackles. The 2025 edge rusher class is crowded, but Dennis-Sutton’s tape from 2024 and his consistency in 2025 have him trending toward a top-50 draft grade. Add in his special-teams value and glowing references from the Penn State strength staff, and he looks like the next Nittany Lion defender poised to make noise on Sundays.
For now, Penn State needs his production and leadership every snap. With a bowl berth still within reach, Dennis-Sutton’s ability to create negative plays and rally a shaken locker room will dictate whether the Nittany Lions finish the season above .500.