Penn State Football Spring Position Grades: Strengths, Questions, and the Road to a Championship
Penn State Football returns a wealth of star power, but questions remain as the Nittany Lions navigate spring practices, preparing for a 2025 season with legitimate national championship aspirations.
Will Drew Allar take the next step?
Can the wide receiver room finally step up?
The pieces are in place for an explosive Nittany Lions offense in 2025. Here’s how each position group stacks up.
Penn State Football Offensive Outlook
Quarterback: B
Drew Allar returns as the starter and is projected as an early-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. While he still has areas to improve, particularly in big-game moments, he possesses all the tools to succeed.
In Penn State‘s losses to Ohio State and Notre Dame, Allar struggled, but he made strides in his running efficiency in 2024. The backup situation lowers this grade, as Jaxon Smolik and Ethan Grunkemeyer lack experience. If the depth were stronger, the group would warrant a higher mark.
Of course, it’s difficult to place all the blame on Allar when the wide receiver corps has been underwhelming.
Running Backs: A+
Retaining one star running back would have been a win, but keeping both? That’s a luxury few teams enjoy.
Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen return for their senior seasons after each surpassing 1,000 rushing yards in 2024. Singleton also eclipsed 1,000 yards as a freshman in 2022. Behind them, third-year back Cam Wallace and second-year players Corey Smith and Quinton Martin Jr. add depth.
Allen and Singleton are both NFL-caliber talents, primed for massive seasons behind one of the best offensive lines in college football.
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Offensive Line: A+
Long considered a weakness, Penn State’s offensive line has steadily improved over the past three seasons.
The Nittany Lions return starting left guard Vega Ioane, center Nick Dawkins, and their top three tackles—Anthony Donkoh, Nolan Rucci, and Drew Shelton. Ioane, a 2024 second-team All-Big Ten selection, is a highly regarded 2026 draft prospect.
Cooper Cousins, a rising second-year talent, and veteran JB Nelson add valuable depth at guard. With Sal Wormley moving on, the line will still be stacked and should power another dominant ground game in 2025.
Tight Ends: B
Replacing Tyler Warren—last season’s Mackey Award winner and the team’s leading receiver (1,233 yards, eight touchdowns)—will be no small task.
The top two candidates to step in are former five-star recruit Luke Reynolds and Andrew Rappleyea.
Reynolds made an early impact as a true freshman, recording nine catches for 111 yards and a touchdown, including a game-changing run on a fake punt against Minnesota. Rappleyea, however, missed the entire 2024 season due to an injury sustained before Week 2.
Khalil Dinkins, a redshirt senior in 2025, brings experience, having played 36 games with the Nittany Lions. He tallied 14 catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns last season. Joey Schlaffer and Finn Furmanek will return as redshirt sophomores, while Jerry Cross transferred to Memphis.
Additionally, Penn State welcomes top high school recruit Andrew Olesh, along with Matt Henderson and Brian Kortovich, giving this position room plenty of potential.
Wide Receivers: No Grade
How do you grade a unit you’ve never seen play?
Wide receiver has undergone the most change since Penn State last took the field, and there are still plenty of unknowns.
Penn State may not have landed a superstar in the transfer portal, but Kyron Hudson (USC) and Devonte Ross (Troy) are solid additions.
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Hudson, a four-year Trojan, totaled 70 catches for 803 yards and eight touchdowns. His best season came in 2024, when he recorded 38 receptions for 462 yards and three scores.
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Ross spent three seasons at Troy, amassing 129 receptions for 1,618 yards and 14 touchdowns. He broke out in 2024 with 1,043 yards and 11 touchdowns on 76 catches.
Neither Hudson nor Ross is guaranteed to start, but they provide better options than Penn State’s returning receivers. The battle for the No. 3 spot is wide open, with Tyseer Denmark among the top contenders.
Denmark earned praise from James Franklin last August but had limited opportunities as a freshman, recording just two catches for 28 yards and a touchdown in three games.
Other candidates include:
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Liam Clifford (Redshirt senior) – 39 catches, 505 yards, one touchdown in 40 career games.
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Kaden Saunders (Redshirt sophomore) – Missed most of 2024 due to injury. Has eight catches for 77 yards and a touchdown in 19 games.
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Anthony Ivey (Redshirt junior) – Just one career reception for 15 yards in 12 games.
Behind them, Peter Gonzales, Josiah Brown, and Aaron Enterline will be redshirt freshmen, while four-star recruits Koby Howard, Lyrick Samuel, Jeff Exinor Jr., and Matt Outten join the mix.
The wide receiver room is filled with question marks, but it also holds massive upside.
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