Penn State's Dani Dennis-Sutton living up to bold promise he made as a freshman

STATE COLLEGE — Dani Dennis-Sutton arrived at Penn State four years ago with a clear goal in mind. He never shied away from it. In fact, he publicized it and has it pinned to the top of a personal social media page, just to make sure no one misses it.

“I will be the best defensive end in CFB.”

Dennis-Sutton posted that on X (formerly Twitter) on March 8, 2022. That was three years, five months and 11 days ago, when he was an early enrollee true freshman.

“When I came in, I made a promise to myself that by the time I leave college, I’ll be the best defensive end in the country,” Dennis-Sutton said Saturday night after Penn State’s season opener. “I’m just trying to prove that every day to myself and to everybody else.”

If Saturday was any indication, he’s got to be pretty close to reaching that goal.

When we last saw Dennis-Sutton, he was battering one of college football’s best offensive lines in the CFP semifinal. In Penn State’s opener against Nevada, the “unique” playmaker, as James Franklin called him, picked up right where he left off.

Like he was in last season’s Orange Bowl, Dennis-Sutton was a menace in Penn State’s win over Nevada. He forced two fumbles. He had 2¹⁄₂ tackles for loss. He had a sack.

Dennis-Sutton had the kind of day that made everyone shake their heads in disbelief, just in case anyone forgot how good the 6-foot-5, 265-pounder is.

“He’s extremely strong. He’s quicker and faster than people realize. He’s a well-rounded defensive end,” Franklin said of Dennis-Sutton. “There are some guys across the country who are great pass rushers. There are some guys that are good against the run. He can do both. He’s a unique guy. He’s gonna have a big-time year.”

But Franklin wasn’t done in his effusive praise.

“He is hungry. He is motivated. He is driven. He wants to be great. A lot of guys say they want to be great. This guy eats, sleeps and dreams football and wants to be special. And he’s been that way since we recruited him.”

Dennis-Sutton came to Penn State with pedigree. The five-star prospect was the highest-rated recruit in the Nittany Lions’ heralded 2022 class, which also included Abdul Carter, Drew Allar, Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen and Zane Durant. There was an understanding then that Dennis-Sutton would blossom into a star, and now it’s on full display.

It was apparent last year, too. Dennis-Sutton, after fighting through a midseason injury, finished 2024 with a bang. He had 2¹⁄₂ TFLs in the CFP quarterfinal against Boise State. In the CFP semifinal loss to Notre Dame, he had two sacks, a forced fumble and an interception.

Some thought Dennis-Sutton might leave for the 2025 NFL Draft. He certainly could have followed Carter and landed somewhere in the second or third round. But Dennis-Sutton felt like there was unfinished business individually and collectively.

“I came back here for a reason: to be the best in the country and for us to win the national championship,” Dennis-Sutton said. “That was really my goal all offseason.”

Dennis-Sutton showed it Saturday, making the opener a living hell for Nevada. Wolfpack quarterback Chubba Purdy said Dennis-Sutton was “on my back” all game. Coach Jeff Choate, who praised Penn State’s defensive line earlier in the week, added: “No. 33 was as advertised.”

Choate’s praise shouldn’t be dismissed, either. He knows what it takes to be an elite edge rusher. Before taking the head coaching job at Nevada, Choate was the co-defensive coordinator at Texas. Before that, he was a defensive assistant at Florida and Washington.

Asked whether any player he coached compares to Dennis-Sutton, Choate said after mulling it over: “I don’t think I’ve ever had a player quite that long. Dante Fowler Jr. was a heck of a player who has that kind of twitch and that kind of ability. But he didn’t have the same length.”

Fowler, the former Florida star, was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Oddly enough, some NFL Draft analysts are dismissing Dennis-Sutton. Just last month, an ESPN scouting expert had seven — yes, seven — edge rushers landing in the first round, and Dennis-Sutton wasn’t mentioned.

There are a lot of talented edge rushers across college football. It’s especially a strong year for the position: Clemson’s TJ Parker, Auburn’s Keldric Faulk, Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr., Alabama LT Overton and LSU’s Patrick Payton.

But what Dennis-Sutton brings — size, speed, power and a relentless motor — makes him a first-round-caliber talent. As Franklin said, he’s a “well-rounded defensive end,” which makes him different from the speed rushers of Penn State’s recent past. He’s the complete package.

Is he the best defensive end in the country? Dennis-Sutton wouldn’t say one way or another.

“I’m my hardest critic,” the senior acknowledged. “So I’m always seeing the negative things I’ve got to work on and get better at. I’ve got a lot of room to grow.”