A quartet of Nittany Lions have earned some national buzz ahead of the 2025 college football season.
Penn State defensive tackle Zane Durant, guard Vega Ioane and running back Nick Singleton were honored by the Associated Press with first-team nods on the preseason All-America team. In addition, running back Kaytron Allen was selected to the second-team as an all-purpose player.
The Nittany Lions’ four selections are tied for the most in the country with Texas, which comes days after the two schools were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 the AP Top 25 poll and separated by just five points.
In addition to the AP, Durant has been tabbed a preseason All-American by The Sporting News and Walter Camp Football Foundation. Entering his senior year, Durant was named to preseason watch lists for the Outland Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award and Lombardi Award. He’s coming off a breakout campaign last season, which included 42 tackles and 11 for loss, fourth most among FBS defensive tackles.
Ioane is set to enter his redshirt junior campaign as one of the top offensive linemen in the country. He started all 16 games at left guard for the Nittany Lions last season, earning second-team All-Big Ten awards. The Sporting News and Walter Camp Football Foundation also gave him preseason All-American praise, and he was placed on watch lists for the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award.
Singleton and Allen made Penn State the only school with two running backs selected, and both have a chance to surpass the program’s career rushing yard record this fall. The duo combined for 2,207 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns last season as the engine of the Nittany Lion offense. Entering his fourth and final season, Singleton also earned All-American accolades from The Sporting News and Walter Camp Football Foundation. Both backs are on the preseason watch lists for the Doak Walker (best running back) and Maxwell (most outstanding player) awards.
Penn State’s strong showing on the preseason All-American teams provides yet another reason for optimism entering the season, and suggests the Nittany Lions will find success in the trenches and in the ground game, two key elements of Big Ten football.
First team offense
Quarterback — Cade Klubnik, fourth year, Clemson.
Running backs — Jeremiyah Love, third year, Notre Dame; Nicholas Singleton, fourth year, Penn State.
Tackles — Spencer Fano, fourth year, Utah; Kadyn Proctor, third year, Alabama.
Guards — Olaivavega Ioane, fourth year, Penn State; Ar’maj Reed-Adams, sixth year, Texas A&M.
Center — Jake Slaughter, fifth year, Florida.
Tight end — Eli Stowers, fifth year, Vanderbilt.
Wide receivers — Jeremiah Smith, second year, Ohio State; Ryan Williams, second year, Alabama; Jordyn Tyson, fourth year, Arizona State.
All-purpose player — Desmond Reid, fourth year, Pittsburgh.
Kicker — Dominic Zvada, fourth year, Michigan.
First team defense
Edge — Dylan Stewart, second year, South Carolina; Colin Simmons, second year, Texas.
Tackles — Peter Woods, third year, Clemson; Zane Durant, fourth year, Penn State.
Linebackers — Anthony Hill Jr., third year, Texas; Whit Weeks, fifth year, LSU; Kyle Louis, fourth year, Pittsburgh.
Cornerbacks — Leonard Moore, second year, Notre Dame; Jermod McCoy, third year, Tennessee.
Safeties — Caleb Downs, third year, Ohio State; Dillon Thieneman, third year, Oregon.
Defensive back — Michael Taaffe, fifth year, Texas.
Punter — Brett Thorson, fourth year, Georgia.
Second team offense
Quarterback — Garrett Nussmeier, fifth year, LSU.
Running backs — Makhi Hughes, fourth year, Oregon; Isaac Brown, second year, Louisville.
Tackles — Francis Mauigoa, third year, Miami; Blake Miller, fourth year, Clemson.
Guards — Cayden Green, third year, Missouri; Keylan Rutledge, fourth year, Georgia Tech.
Center — Parker Brailsford, fourth year, Alabama.
Tight end — Max Klare, fourth year, Ohio State.
Wide receivers — Antonio Williams, fourth year, Clemson; Elijah Sarratt, fourth year, Indiana; Cam Coleman, second year, Auburn.
All-purpose player — Kaytron Allen, fourth year, Penn State.
Kicker — Peyton Woodring, third year, Georgia.
Second team defense
Edge — T.J. Parker, third year, Clemson; Matayo Uiagalelei, third year, Oregon.
Tackles — Tim Keenan III, fifth year, Alabama; Christen Miller, fourth year, Georgia.
Linebackers — Taurean York, third year, Texas A&M; Harold Perkins Jr., fourth year, LSU; Aiden Fisher, fourth year, Indiana.
Cornerbacks — Chandler Rivers, fourth year, Duke; D’Angelo Ponds, third year, Indiana.
Safeties — Koi Perich, second year, Minnesota; KJ Bolden, second year, Georgia.
Defensive back — Jalon Kilgore, third year, South Carolina.
Punter — Ryan Eckley, fourth year, Michigan State.
