The Penn State Nittany Lions are coming off one of their best seasons in program history. They made it to the college football playoff semi-final and fell just short of a national title appearance.
The good news for Penn State is that they are bringing back many players who got them that far last season. These are the 10 best players returning to Penn State in 2025.
1A) Nicholas Singleton, RB, Senior
Nick Singleton returns to Penn State for his senior season as the Nittany Lions’ fifth all-time leader in rushing touchdowns. He makes up half of the best running back duo in college football, totaling 1,4374 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2024. His return in 2025 guarantees Penn State will have a top rushing attack next season.
1B) Kaytron Allen, RB, Senior
Kaytron Allen also returns to Penn State for his senior season and is the Nittany Lions’ 11th most prolific rusher of all time. He was Penn State’s leading rusher in 2024, running for 1,109 yards and eight touchdowns. With Allen and Singleton back in 2025, Penn State’s run game will be unstoppable.
3) Drew Allar, QB, Senior
As if Allen and Singleton weren’t enough, Penn State will also see its star quarterback, Drew Allar, return in 2025. He threw for 3,327 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2024 and is projected to be a high draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He’s a top quarterback in the country and will be the leader of the Nittany Lions next season.
4) Dani-Dennis Sutton, DE, Senior
Dani-Dennis Sutton’s season was overshadowed by the dominating performance that Abdul Carter put on en route to becoming the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, Sutton is elite in his own right. He racked up 42 tackles, 13 TFLs, and 8.5 sacks in 2024 and should be the best defensive player the Nittany Lions have next season.
5) Zakee Wheatley, Safety, RS Senior
Zakee Wheatley could have declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, but instead, he returned to Penn State for his final year of eligibility. Wheatley was elite in 2024, tallying 96 tackles and three interceptions. He will be the heart and soul of the Nittany Lion secondary in 2025 and should have a fantastic season.
6) Olaivavega Ioane, OG, RS Junior
If you’re wondering how Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton ran for over 1,000 yards in 2024, a lot of it can be attributed to Olaivavega Ioane. He earned second-team All-Big Ten honors while starting all 16 games as the Nittany Lions’ left guard. His return in 2025 sets up Penn State for even more success next season.
7) A.J. Harris, CB, Junior
A.J. Harris was Penn State’s best cornerback last year, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors. He had 48 tackles, four TFLs, one interception, five pass breakups in 2024, and returns in 2025 looking to have a similar impact.
8) Tony Rojas, LB, Junior
With Kobe King gone to the NFL, Tony Rojas will become the leader of the Penn State defense in 2025. Rojas had a great 2024 campaign, finishing with 58 tackles, six TFLs, one sack, and three interceptions en route to earning All-Big Ten honorable mention honors. His numbers should increase and play a more prominent role in 2025.
9) Zane Durant, DT, Senior
Zane Durant was essential to the elite Penn State run defense last fall. He earned All-Big Ten honorable mention honors while making 42 tackles, 11 TFLs, and three sacks.
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He’s a menace on the defensive line and will be a key part of the Nittany Lions’ defense again in 2025.
10) Dominic DeLuca, LB, RS Senior
Along with Tony Rojas, the Nittany Lions are returning another great off-ball linebacker in Dominic DeLuca. DeLuca only made five starts last season but racked up 40 tackles, four TFLs, and three interceptions for Penn State. He returns in a bigger role in 2025 and should help this Penn State defense stay elite.
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