With Penn State’s season slowly getting closer and training camp even closer still, there’s no time like the present to think about how the Nittany Lions’ season – and who the big performers of the year – will end up being. On a team not short of talent, there are plenty of players to choose from for all of these awards, but here are a few preseason predictions of how it’s all going to play out when the 2023 campaign is all said and done.
MVP: Nick Singleton, running back
The popular option here is to pick Drew Allar to just do everything and be wonderful. While that might end up being true, it seems more likely that Allar is going to ease into his role in part on the back of Penn State’s running game. Even in a world where that isn’t the case, Singleton seems poised to have a Saquon Barkley-sophomore-year where he just does so much that you have to give him the award. A nod here as well for Kaytron Allen, who is every bit the threat to gash teams for big gains as Singleton is. Split the award if you want — Penn State’s best asset is going to be the fact Allar won’t have to force it.
Most Improved: KeAndre Lambert-Smith, receiver
If you’re a believer in KLS’ ability to turn the corner and become the sort of player he has shown he can be in spurts, this is the award for you. There are a lot of guys you could pick for this honor because Penn State is going to need plenty of players to step up this season, but KLS gets tabbed here on “it has to happen finally?” merits. If he doesn’t, then Dani Dennis-Sutton will, and if he doesn’t you could maybe give it to a kicker — but that’s never a sexy option. In any case, here’s to KLS becoming the player some people think he can be.
Defensive Player of The Year: Abdul Carter, linebacker
Abdul Carter might not be Micah Parsons just yet but he does have the opportunity to have the season everyone was hoping to see from Parsons prior to COVID. Penn State’s defense is going to be very good – again – so Chop Robinson, Kalen King and others might be just as able to snag this away from Carter. That being said, Carter is gearing up for a legitimate All-American run. Kind of makes this award obvious if he checks off that box.
Offensive Player of The Year: Olu Fashanu, offensive tackle
Yes this could go to Singleton, but if Penn State is going to bring back a probable top-10 pick and spend the better part of the last decade lamenting that the offensive line isn’t good enough, you have to get technical and give this award to the best player on that side of the ball. It isn’t sexy, but the moment you say “but give it to Singleton or Allar” well, just rewind the tape and ask yourself if you’d like to watch another iteration of “if only Penn State had a good offensive line.” Fashanu can’t do it on his own, but he sure as hell can do a lot.
Freshman of The Year: Tony Rojas, linebacker
Rojas is one of those kids who shows up on campus and everyone immediately starts talking about him. Rojas hasn’t played a snap yet for Penn State so time will tell if he can really live up to the hype, but man, oh man, is he building a hype train. This award might be partially a product of Penn State not having tons of freshmen set to take on as big of a role as Rojas, but he is going to earn it either way.
Household Name: Kalen King, cornerback
A somewhat vaguely defined award, this is the year that I can start to make good on an unpopular opinion that Kalen King might actually be better than Joey Porter Jr. I’m burying this claim at the bottom of the story to limit the number of people who see it. True or not, King is objectively set up to make a name for himself this year and has given plenty of indication that he capable of doing exactly that.
