Penn State 2023 early look: The Nittany Lions’ defensive end room should be formidable

A little more than a week removed from Penn State’s 35-21 victory over Utah in the Rose Bowl, it’s time to start looking ahead to the Nittany Lions’ 2023 season.

James Franklin’s team closed out 2022 with five consecutive victories, and the win over Pac-12 champ Utah qualifies as a signature triumph.

PSU pulled away from the Utes with 21 second-half points and finished with an 11-2 record, good enough for a No. 7 ranking in the final Associated Press poll. ESPN senior writer Mark Schlabach has the Lions at No. 6 in his initial look at the 2023 top 25.

Expectations are very high for a program brimming with young talent. But Penn State still must deal with Ohio State and Michigan.

The Lions’ defensive end group should be a position of strength with a couple of talented veterans returning and one five-star signee entering his second year.

Penn State registered nine tackles for loss in its Jan. 2 win over Utah, and the Lions finished with 104 tackles for loss — 43 of them sacks — during the 13-game season. Penn State’s ends had plenty to do with that production.

Here is a closer look at the room.

Top returnees: Adisa Isaac, Chop Robinson, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Amin Vanover

Isaac announced on Sunday he would back for a fifth year in State College. A key player in Franklin’s 2019 recruiting class, Isaac missed all of 2021 with an Achilles injury. Isaac led Penn State in tackles for loss with 11 (four sacks) and added eight quarterback hurries while appearing in all 13 games. The 6-foot-4, 243-pound Isaac had three tackles for loss (one sack) and two quarterback hurries in the Lions’ 41-12 win at Auburn, two tackles for loss (one sack) in PSU’s 45-14 victory at Indiana and two tackles for loss against the Utes.

Robinson, a key 2022 addition via the transfer portal from Maryland, made an immediate impact and tallied 10 tackles for loss (5 1/2 sacks), three quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and a forced fumble. The 6-3, 240-pound Robinson collected 1 1/2 sacks against Utah.

Vanover, who will be entering fourth season at Penn State, appeared in all 13 games and contributed 4.5 tackles for loss (one sack), three pass breakups and two quarterback hurries.

Moving on: Nick Tarburton

A key part of the end rotation the last two seasons, Tarburton is prepping for the 2023 NFL Draft. He produced 5 1/2 tackles for loss (two sacks), two pass breakups, a quarterback hurry, a forced fumble and Tarburton recovered a fumble in 2022.

Player to watch: Dennis-Sutton

A five-star signee, Dennis-Sutton was considered the top player coming out of Maryland in the 2022 class. The Lions have had great success adding talent from McDonogh School in Maryland (PJ Mustipher, Curtis Jacobs, Dvon Ellies), and Dennis-Sutton has the tools to be the best. The 6-5, 250-pounder was part of the Lions’ end rotation as a true freshman and he finished with 3 1/2 tackles for loss (three sacks), three quarterback hurries and he intercepted a pass in 13 games.

2023 signees: Jameial Lyons and Joseph Mupoyi

Lyons is a four-star talent from Roman Catholic in Philadelphia, and Mupoyi is a three-star recruit from St. Thomas More in Connecticut. Another name to know is four-star recruit Ta’Mere Robinson from Brashear. He could play linebacker or bulk up to play edge.