Penn State Football is now mere weeks away from beginning spring practice, there is plenty of optimism for the Nittany Lions in 2024.

For starters, the Big Ten conference has finally removed the divisions, giving Penn State a new slate of opponents in 2024 in the expanded Big Ten conference and avoiding playing both Michigan and Ohio State in the same season yet again in 2024.

With the expanded 12-team playoff beginning in 2024, the Nittany Lions’ path to the College Football Playoff is clearer than in any past year, where a second loss does not end a team’s chance to compete for the National Championship. If Penn State Football is to break through and finally reach the college football playoff for the first time in program history, the Lions will need key veterans to step up.

5 Penn State Football Veterans Capable of Powering Playoff Berth

Kobe King

Kobe King was a quiet but substantial piece of Penn State’s stellar defense in 2023, ranking second on the Nittany Lions in tackles in 2023 with 59 and adding 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.

With Abdul Carter moving to defensive end for 2024, King will be the leader of the linebacker room with Penn State turning to some younger names at the position alongside the redshirt junior from Michigan. King has been steadily improving over his time at Penn State, earning an honorable mention on the All-Big Ten Team in 2023, King is set to become a vital leader during his fourth season in blue and white.

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Julian Fleming

If you told a Penn State fan five years ago that Julian Fleming would be a vital part of a Penn State offense hoping to lead the Nittany Lions to the College Football Playoff, nobody would have batted an eye.

After four years in Columbus playing for the rival Buckeyes and needing to use a COVID-year to return to college for a fifth season after transferring to Penn State, however, Fleming could be a surprising addition to this list for some fans. 

The transfer for Julian Fleming though has the potential to work out spectacularly for both parties. Penn State struggled to find consistent play at the wide receiver position in 2023 and Julian Fleming, despite failing to live up to extremely lofty expectations at Ohio State, is one of the most consistent and experienced wide receivers on Penn State’s 2024 roster. If he can stay healthy in 2024, Fleming can be a vital weapon for quarterback Drew Allar at wide receiver, and has the ceiling to lead Penn State receivers next season.

Dani Dennis-Sutton

As a former five-star defensive end, Dani Dennis-Sutton has star potential written all over him.

Penn State Football fans saw a glimpse of this last season against Indiana as Dennis-Sutton’s strip sack effectively ended the game in the final minutes. After sitting behind Adisa Isaac and Chop Robinson last season and working in as Penn State’s number three defensive end, Dennis-Sutton will now start and look to continue Penn State’s stellar play at the position.

Despite only starting three games, Dennis-Sutton accumulated six tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks, good for fifth on the team in both statistics. With another offseason to refine his craft, Dennis-Sutton is primed to be a household name across college football in 2024 and one of the best defensive ends in the Big Ten.  

Cam Miller

Cam Miller is another player that sat behind older starters that are now off to the NFL draft and will get his chance to compete for a starting spot this spring. After NFL declarations from Johnny Dixon, Kalen King, and Daequan Hardy, Penn State’s cornerback room is in need of replacing three key components of its 2023 squad.

In his junior year, Miller looks to fill the role of one of the leaders in the room. In limited playing time behind the aforementioned three, Miller racked up three sacks, four tackles for a loss, an interception and three pass breakups in 2023. Heading into 2024, Miller faces a vital offseason to refine his play and earn one of the vacant starting jobs. As one of the most experience cornerbacks remaining on the roster, Miller must step up into a marquee role.

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Tyler Warren

Tight end Tyler Warren is one of the most slept on players in the country heading into 2024.

Despite tying for second in the nation in receiving touchdowns in 2023 among tight ends, Warren is not listed among the top 10 returning tight ends for the 2024 season.

Warren is only five touchdowns away from the Penn State record for career receiving touchdowns by a tight end. In 2024, with Theo Johnson off to the NFL, Warren has the opportunity to break the Penn State record and put himself among the top tight ends in the country heading into the 2025 NFL draft.

If Penn State Football can rely on these five veterans to carry the Nittany Lions in 2024, the James Franklin‘s program should have the opportunity to break through the proverbial ceiling and earn their first college football playoff berth.

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