Most eyes are on Penn State this season, and for good reason. James Franklin’s squad isn’t just talented; it’s stacked. With a playoff-caliber lineup and the championship hype growing by the day, the Nittany Lions are entering 2025 with serious stakes. Could this be the year they finally break through and capture a national title?
Even more? The NFL spotlight is already locked in. This team could send a record number of players to the draft, with multiple first-round picks almost a given. The countdown has begun, but who are the stars leading the charge in the 2025-26 season?
Top 7 Penn State Football Players to Watch in 2026
It’s early, but we’re doing it anyway. With the season on the horizon, we’re projecting the top seven players to watch in 2026. Some picks are no-brainers. Others? We’re banking on potential, development, and a little bit of breakout magic. Here’s the list.
7) Devonte Ross, Wide receiver
Devonte Ross, a three-star recruit in 2021, bounced from a Marshall commitment to Kentucky but ultimately landed at Troy in 2022.
Over three seasons with the Trojans, he racked up 129 catches, 1,618 yards, and 14 touchdowns. In 2024, he earned First Team All-Sun Belt honors with 76 receptions for 1,043 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He entered the 2024 transfer portal, and after a December visit to Happy Valley, he decided to join Penn State for his next chapter.
6) Zane Durant, Defensive tackle
Zane Durant is one of Penn State’s top returning veterans for the 2025 season. After turning down the 2025 NFL Draft opportunity, the senior has earned consistent praise for his growth within the Nittany Lions’ program. He’s primed to play a pivotal role in PSU’s national title aspirations.
Although Durant burned his redshirt as a freshman and earned a starting spot as a sophomore, 2024 marked his breakout campaign.
The 6-foot-1, 288-pounder posted career highs with 42 tackles—11 for a loss—three sacks, and 28 quarterback pressures, earning his second consecutive Big Ten honorable mention.
5) Kaytron Allen, Running back
In the 2025-26 season, Penn State is among the favorites to win the national championship, and Kaytron is a big reason why.
Since joining the Nittany Lions, the running back known as “Fatman” has been lethal. He racked up 2,877 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns over the past three seasons.
Allen was especially dominant in the 2024 postseason, running for 410 yards at an impressive 6.7 yards per carry across the Big Ten Championship and three College Football Playoff games.
4) Nick Singleton, Running back
Nick Singleton chose to forgo the 2025 NFL Draft for one reason: he wants it all at Penn State. The star running back has his sights set on the program’s record books, with career marks in rushing yards, all-purpose yards, and touchdowns all within reach.
After rushing for 1,099 yards in the 2024 season, Singleton became one of a few Nittany Lion backs, alongside legends Saquon Barkley, Ki-Jana Carter, and John Cappelletti, to post multiple 1,000-yard seasons.
With 2,912 rushing yards, he needs just 1,021 more to surpass Evan Royster’s record (3,932 yards). Barkley’s records for rushing touchdowns (43), total touchdowns (53), and all-purpose yardage (5,538) are now firmly in his crosshairs.
3) A.J. Harris, Cornerback
One of Penn State’s biggest concerns this time last year was the cornerback position, but A.J. Harris quickly stepped up. The former five-star Georgia recruit started 15 games, earned all-conference honors, and delivered a standout season with 48 tackles, four TFLs, and five pass breakups. His clutch interception against Illinois helped seal a primetime win.
With a repeat of his 2024 brilliance, Harris could become Penn State’s first-ever first-round NFL Draft pick at defensive back.
2) Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge
It took some time for Dani Dennis-Sutton to find his groove at the college level, but he delivered when it mattered most.
During the College Football Playoff, he racked up seven tackles for loss. Three of them came in a dominant Fiesta Bowl performance against Boise State, where Penn State contained star back Ashton Jeanty.
He also notched 4.5 sacks in the postseason, including two in the semifinal win over Notre Dame. With Abdul Carter off to the NFL, Dennis-Sutton is now the go-to threat off the edge heading into the 2025-26 season.
KEEP READING: Breaking Down the Top 5 Potential 2025-26 Heisman Trophy Contenders
1) Drew Allar, Quarterback
Drew Allar is one of college football’s top quarterbacks entering the 2025 season. The five-star recruit and the No. 1 QB in the 2022 class has passed for 5,869 yards and 50 touchdowns in his Penn State career.
Allar has a 21-5 record as a starter and holds school records for completion percentage (63.6%), passer efficiency (146.4), and the lowest interception rate (1.16%). He’s thrown only nine interceptions across 773 career attempts.
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