Penn State Defense Two-Deep: Projecting the Starting Lineup Before the Portal Reopens
Penn State Football is now less than two weeks away from its annual spring game, signaling the end of spring practice.
However, with the transfer portal opening next week, the Nittany Lions roster is already in flux with JB Nelson no longer listed on the roster as of Friday morning. So, before the spring transfer portal window opens next week, let’s take a shot at projecting Penn State’s starting lineup on defense.
Penn State Football Projected Starting Lineup: Defense
Defensive End: Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zuriah Fisher
With Abdul Carter expected to be the top defensive player selected in this month’s NFL Draft, the Nittany Lions must replace a major talent at defensive end.
However, there are plenty of talented players remaining for Deion Barnes to choose from to keep up the stellar play Penn State has seen over the past few years along the defensive line.
Dani Dennis-Sutton will now be the spotlight on the defensive line for Penn State after deciding to return for a fourth season at Penn State despite stellar performances in the College Football Playoff that could have raised his draft stock substantially.
Opposite Dennis-Sutton, Zuriah Fisher looks healthy again after a second season-ending injury in his Penn State career derailed his 2024 season. If he’s fully healthy, he will certainly play a large role for the Penn State defense, and for now at least slots into the second starting spot at defensive end.
Behind these two, Max Granville flashed extremely high potential during what should have been his high school senior season and the second year player from Texas could make a major push for a large role in 2025.
Defensive Tackle: Zane Durant and Alonzo Ford
Zane Durant’s return to Penn State for a fourth season was one of the best surprises for Penn State this offseason. Durant was phenomenal last season, racking up 42 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, and three sacks while starting all 16 games for the Nittany Lions.
Durant will once again anchor the middle of the defensive line for one more season in 2025.
Next to Durant, Penn State will look for a new starter and plenty of depth after Dvon J Thomas and Coziah Izzard are not longer on the roster and are pursuing NFL dreams.
Alonzo Ford was injured late in the regular season last year and is still recovering, missing spring practice. Despite this, I still project Ford to return before the start of the season and win the starting position next to Durant. Penn State head coach James Franklin noted earlier this week that Durant, Ford, and Xavier Gilliam were Penn State’s top three defensive tackles, with the other depth spots up for grabs from Penn State’s young talent. Even if Ford wins the starting position next to Durant, expect Xavier Gilliam to play a ton this fall for Penn State.
Linebacker: Tony Rojas, Dom Deluca, and Ta’Mere Robinson
Penn State’s top two linebackers, Tony Rojas and Dom Deluca, were obvious choices to keep their starting jobs once again in 2025.
However, Penn State will have a fierce competition for the third linebacker spot and for playing time behind the starters.
Last week, head coach James Franklin noted that Ta’Mere Robinson was standing out among the linebackers. Robinson would be a good candidate to play that third linebacker spot when Penn State does run three linebacker sets, which will not be frequent in Jim Knowles’ 4-2-5 system.
Cornerback: AJ Harris and Elliot Washington
Former Georgia transfer AJ Harris was sensational in his first season in Happy Valley and returns for a second season locked into a starting position at cornerback.
With Jalen Kimber off to the NFL draft, Penn State will need to fill one starting cornerback position this offseason.
Elliot Washington and Audavion Collins will both get plenty of playing time this year, but only one will get the nod to start opposite Harris.
After sweeping winter workouts, I have penciled in Elliot Washington into the second starting cornerback position. Penn State cornerbacks coach Terry Smith stated earlier this offseason that Washington has been “really taking it to another level” this offseason.
Safety: Zakee Wheatley and DeJuan Lane
Safety is another position group where Penn State has to replace key players from last season’s defense.
Jaylen Reed is now off to the NFL after exhausting his eligibility after playing in 50 games for Penn State and starting every game for the past two seasons for the Nittany Lions. KJ Winston is also now off to the NFL, despite missing almost the entire 2024 season with a partially torn ACL.
Silver lining with Winston’s injury last season was that it allowed Zakee Wheatley to step into the starting lineup for the remainder of the season and take his game to the next level. Now the feature safety in Penn State’s defense, Penn State will need Wheatley to step up even more and become a vocal leader of the defense this season.
Next to Wheatley, Penn State will need to pick a new starter from a room of young but unproven talent. DeJuan Lane is the most likely candidate after playing the role of the third safety last season, however, King Mack, who transferred back to Penn State from Alabama this offseason will also push for playing time. Mack has been held out of spring practice with an injury, which may certainly help Lane grab that second starting job.
5th DB: King Mack OR Zion Tracy
As noted earlier, Penn State will run a base 4-2-5 defense this season under new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, like the Nittany Lions ran in 2024 under Tom Allen.
With that, Penn State will need to find a fifth starter at defensive back from either the safety or cornerback room. Right now, there isn’t a clear answer to where Penn State will go here yet. King Mack and Zion Tracy could fill out that role nicely, however, neither has been on the practice field for the Nittany Lions as of late this spring. This will likely be sorted closer to the start of the season.
Unlike the offense, there are more positions still up for grabs this spring and fall on the Penn State defense. As the season grows closer, the depth chart will become clearer. Luckily in most of these positions, even if a player loses the starting position battle, defense allows for plenty of rotation and each of these players should, barring injury, play a ton of snaps for Penn State this fall.
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