Dec 21, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton (33) reacts following a sack on Southern Methodist Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings (not pictured) during the second quarter in the first round of the College Football Playoff at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images
Penn State edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton’s performance at the NFL combine may have just changed the trajectory of his career.
According to PFF, the 6-5, 265-lb defensive lineman is rising up draft boards. In 2025, Dennis-Sutton had a standout season with 8.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. His 2024 season was equally impressive, but Dennis-Sutton was no longer in the shadow of the departed Abdul Carter.
Yet, Mel Kiper had the defensive end ranked as the 6th best at his position.
What Experts are Saying: PFF’s Take on the Penn State Edge Rusher
Let’s take a look at what impressed PFF’s Trevor Sikkema, “Dennis-Sutton was a big winner at the combine. At 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds (with 33.5-inch arms to boot), he ran a 4.63-second 40-yard dash with a 1.63-second 10-yard split, which is a really good number for his overall size.
He then impressed even more with a 39.5-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-11 broad jump. But we’ve seen plenty of big defensive players be explosive before, only for lateral quickness and agility to be their Achilles’ heel on the field when asked to change direction. But to that point, Dennis-Sutton ran a 6.90 in the three-cone, which puts him in the 93rd percentile for all defensive ends before accounting for weight adjustments.
Sutton earned an 80.1 PFF overall grade this past season with a 77.7 PFF run-defense grade and a 78.2 PFF pass-rush grade against true pass sets. There were times when you wondered if he was fluid enough of an athlete to be a difference-making pass rusher at the next level. But his testing at the combine showed he possesses that athletic ability, giving him a likely top-75 type of draft projection. (2026 NFL Draft: 5 players rising up my board after the NFL Combine)”
Numbers Behind the Rise: Dani Dennis-Sutton’s 2026 Combine Results
What’s particularly interesting about Dani Dennis-Sutton’s performance is that he ranks in the 93rd percentile for defensive ends in the three-cone.
Typically, that translates well into the modern NFL defense, because it allows a defender to get off the ball and around the edge quickly. Outside of his quickness, opposing quarterbacks will have to be mindful of Dennis-Sutton’s size, which should help him deflect passes at the line.
One area of the defensive end’s game that scouts might be wary of is his consistency. If he wants to be more than just a late-day 2, career role player, he’ll need to consistently win at the line of scrimmage rather than just flashing for short periods. His back-to-back 8.5-sack seasons show that he has that potential.
Some players play well on tape, but their athleticism is put into question at the combine. Some players are nobodies until they wow at the combine. In Dani Dennis-Sutton’s case, he’s putting it all together, and now he’s hoping to get a call from his future employer early on day 2 of the draft.
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