Jim Knowles’ first Blue-White game has come and gone, and things are starting to look clear in the defensive depth chart. However, some position battles are yet to be won, and some transfer portal targets are yet to be reined in.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
3T: Zane Durant (SR) — Xavier Gilliam (RS FR) — Liam Andrews (RS FR)
1T: Alonzo Ford Jr. (RS SR+) — Ty Blanding (RS SO) — Kaleb Artis (RS JR)
While Penn State’s biggest defensive asset might play along the interior defensive line, the waters are otherwise murky at defensive tackle. Zane Durant is a preseason All-American and is poised for a monster senior season, boasting 11 TFLs and three sacks last year. He didn’t play in the Blue-White game, but that was supposedly just for rest.
Beyond Durant, no one is locked into a starting role. But that doesn’t mean the room is lacking in talent. Veteran Alonzo Ford is the betting favorite to start alongside Durant, but he was also absent from the spring game to continue rehabbing a season-ending injury he suffered toward the end of last year. James Franklin said budding star Xavier Gilliam is also in the starting mix, and I don’t expect Ty Blanding to be far behind him.
This position group is strange because many seemingly unknown or unseasoned players could end up working their way into meaningful roles. Kaleb Artis, who’s been a breakout candidate for years but has battled injuries, comes to mind. Four-star redshirt freshman Liam Andrews and Michigan transfer Owen Wafle will have cases to state, too.
DEFENSIVE END
DE: Zuriah Fisher (RS SR+) — Enai White (RS JR) — Jaylen Harvey (RS FR)
DE: Dani Dennis-Sutton (SR) — Max Granville (RS FR) — Mylachi Williams (RS FR)
Like last year, Penn State’s defensive end room is shaping up to be a strength of the defense. This room is super deep, and it was hard…
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Publish date : 2025-05-02 15:10:00
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