Penn State’s defensive line depth took a significant hit this offseason, sending multiple players to the NFL and losing others to the transfer portal. The result is a roster brimming with potential but lacking the proven depth that has defined the front for years.
Though the Nittany Lions boast one of the most talented overall rosters in college football, both defensive tackle and defensive end positions are viewed as significant question marks heading into the season opener against Nevada.
The uncertainty stems from a lack of experienced players, with only defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton and defensive tackle Zane Durant having significant game experience at Penn State. Beyond these two, the snap counts drop precipitously, leaving a void that must be filled by a crop of young, untested talent.
The situation has created a high-stakes environment for defensive line coach Deion Barnes, a former Penn State standout himself who understands the program’s lofty expectations.
“It’s always a sense of urgency. I mean, you got one standard, and that’s the standard that we’ve been living by for a long time,” Barnes said. “You know what it looks like, and until it looks like that, you’re always pressing for that. So it’s always a sense of urgency every day; that’s what we do. Whether it’s a dude that played four years like Dani and Zane, or it’s a dude that just about to get on the field, got the same urgency.”
The defensive line’s depth issues were exacerbated by a series of setbacks during the offseason and early fall camp. Max Granville, who was expected to be a major contributor this season, is out with a long-term injury. Additionally, Zuriah Fisher, who many thought would earn the starting job, wasn’t at practice during the media viewing window this week and may not be available on Saturday.
This leaves the door open for younger players to step up — whether or not they’re ready. Head coach James Franklin previously named defensive ends Chaz Coleman and Yvan Kemajou as two of three freshmen who have the green light to burn their redshirts this season, a simultaneous testament to their maturity and a signal of potential depth concerns.
“These guys caught on,” Barnes said. “They’re smart kids; they understand. The way they’re catching on so fast, it amazes me. But that goes into the time they take to be able to figure these things out, taking extra time outside of the meeting time, outside of practice time, figuring it out, asking questions … that goes to tell you, man, these kids are dedicated to this.”
Coleman, in particular, has emerged as a potential breakout star, with growing speculation he could be the Week 1 starter against Nevada, given the praise he’s received and the apparent lack of options ahead of him. Franklin said Wednesday he wouldn’t be surprised if Coleman saw “30 plays” on Saturday, but didn’t go so far as naming him a starter.
Kemajou, a 6-foot-3, 251-pound defensive end from Maryland, has also turned heads with his athleticism and raw potential. While less polished than Coleman, his physical tools and willingness to learn have positioned him as a candidate for meaningful snaps early in the season.
If everything goes according to plan on Saturday, Penn State will establish a comfortable lead and begin cycling in depth players, not only to give them live-action reps, but to evaluate their readiness and draw comparisons, as several starting roles are still fluid situations.
Barnes will be keeping a sharp eye on his freshmen when they step onto the West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium for the first time. He wants to see them be “technically sound.”
“Going out there playing free too, go out there to have fun,” Barnes said. “And then also the plays that come up that come to you, make those plays. I mean, we have some tackling in practice, but I want to see it being done in the game.”
