Penn State Football: Ranking the Nittany Lions’ Top-5 Position Battles
Penn State Football went all out to retain the core of their 2024 roster heading into the 2025 season.
However, this doesn’t mean the Nittany Lions aren’t looking to replace key playmakers on both offense and defense after NFL draft decisions by Tyler Warren, Abdul Carter, and Kobe King, among others.
Heading into spring practice, plenty of young talents and transfer players will have the opportunity to compete for starting spots for Penn State next fall.
Penn State Football Top Position Battles to Watch This Spring
5. Tight End
Penn State fans just finished watching Warren put up the greatest individual season by a tight end in program history.
In 2024, Warren caught a program record 104 passes for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns. That is a ton of production to replace.
Luckily for Ty Howle and the Nittany Lions, there is plenty of talent in the tight end room to choose from to replace Tyler Warren next fall.
The offseason battle between Luke Reynolds (who showed plenty of flashes during his true freshman season), veteran Khalil Dinkins, and young unproven talents Joey Schlaffer, Andrew Rappleyea (returning from an injury that cost him the 2024 season), and Andrew Olesh should be entertaining to watch.
4. Linebacker
Another position with a large hole to fill heading into 2025 for the Nittany Lions is linebacker.
After going all-in this offseason to bring back almost everyone available for 2025, one stinging NFL draft declaration was Kobe King.
After splitting time early in his career with Tyler Elsdon, King anchored the mike linebacker spot for Penn State for the past two seasons.
Unless Penn State dips into the transfer portal during the spring window, Penn State will need to rely on youth in the linebacker room after King’s departure. Keon Wylie, Kari Jackson, Ta’mere Robinson, Dakaari Nelson, and Anthony Speca give the Nittany Lions plenty of options at the position, however, one of these guys must step up next season if the Nittany Lions hope to reach their lofty expectations of chasing a national championship.
3. Cornerback
Transfer cornerback Jalen Kimber opted for the NFL after one season with the Nittany Lions, leaving open one starting cornerback spot for next season.
With former Georgia transfer AJ Harris cementing his name in one spot already, Penn State will look for another starter from a wealth of talent in Terry Smith’s room this spring.
Unlike linebacker, Penn State has plenty of options with experience in the cornerback room. Zion Tracy, Elliot Washington II, and Audavion Collins all have a ton of playing experience over their time at Penn State. Whichever way this battle goes, the Nittany Lions should be in good hands heading into 2025.
2. Safety
Safety was a position that was supposed to be set it and forget it in 2024.
With veterans KJ Winston, Jaylen Reed, and Zakee Wheatley expected to spearhead the Nittany Lions defensive backfield, there was little worry about what the Nittany Lions had at safety last fall.
However, after a week two injury forced KJ Winston to the sideline for the season, Penn State was forced to use freshman Dejuan Lane in a much larger role than expected. Now with Jaylen Reed and Winston off to the NFL, Wheatley becomes the trusted veteran in the room, but Penn State will need to find another safety or two that the Nittany Lions feel comfortable with before the season begins.
With King Mack back after a season at Alabama and Lane having another offseason to develop, these two may have a leg up on the position battle. There are plenty of young, unproven players that can put the pressure on these two during the spring and summer, however.
Wide receiver
No surprises here.
Penn State’s wide receiver position was an issue for the Nittany Lions last season. Capped off with a zero catch, negative three yard performance in the Orange Bowl against Notre Dame, Penn State completely reset its wide receiver room heading into the 2025 season.
With starting wide receivers Harrison Wallace III and Omari Evans officially off the roster and transfers Kyron Hudson and Devonte Ross already making a splash during winter workouts, everyone will be keeping an eye on the wide receiver position this spring and into the fall.
All eyes will be on these position battles this spring and heading into the fall.
Penn State has expectations of returning to the College Football Playoff and the Big Ten championship this season, and will need to sort these position battles out to reach their full potential.
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