Penn State brought in a loaded 2022 recruiting class featuring three five-star prospects, but sitting atop the pack was edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton, the No. 1 recruit from Maryland and No. 29 player in the cycle, per the 247Sports composite rankings.
Looking to follow in the footsteps of recent Nittany Lion edge rushers like Micah Parsons, Chop Robinson and Abdul Carter, Dennis-Sutton is eyeing a premier pick in the upcoming NFL draft.
“It’s been a dream come true,” Dennis-Sutton said at Penn State Pro Day. “Obviously, meeting all the head coaches, meeting these teams and things like that, and just traveling the country, you see all these teams that you see on the TV every week. It’s cool.”
Dennis-Sutton’s pass-rushing prowess was evident from his freshman season in 2022, when he totaled three sacks and 17 tackles in limited playing time.
He earned a starting role for the 2024 season, playing a crucial part in the team’s run to the College Football Playoff semifinals. While his counterpart Carter drew attention, Dennis-Sutton quietly put together a strong campaign with 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.
Though he garnered draft buzz as a junior, Dennis-Sutton returned for the 2025 season and amassed 42 tackles with 8.5 sacks and three forced fumbles, plus three blocked punts. He showcased the versatility to play as three-tech and the speed to spy the quarterback or drop into coverage, totaling eight pass breakups and two interceptions at Penn State.
“I do things that not everybody can do, especially in this class, not really anybody,” Dennis-Sutton said. “Obviously, physically I have the size and the speed, but I feel like, for me, also, I have the ability to play the run, chase plays down on the backside, and obviously my speed and power.”
Pro Day/NFL Combine results
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 261 pounds
Bench press: 26 reps
Vertical jump: 39.5 inches
Broad jump: 10-foot-11
40-yard dash: 4.63 seconds
Three-cone drill: 6.90 seconds
Draft projection: Round 2
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