On3 Roundtable: Sophomore Penn State class has hopes riding high in Happy Valley for 2023

As far as Penn State’s young talent is concerned, it’s “huge” for the program’s future, according to BlueWhite Illustrated’s Sean Fitz.

It all starts and ends with quarterback Drew Allar, but there are plenty of other players to point out. Allar just gets the spotlight due to being in the most important position on the team.

Fitz broke down the young talent of the last couple of Penn State recruiting classes with J.D. PicKell on the On3 Roundtable.

“I mean, it’s huge in this upcoming 2023 season because that class of 2022,” Fitz said. “It’s too early to judge any class, no doubt. But so far, the results are very good. Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, as you mentioned, two running backs that proved they can play in the Big Ten right away and on a national level. And sort of beyond those two, Abdul Carter, who I think we all know about by now. He arrived last year. There’s still some guys that can turn that corner for the class of 2022.”

But as every Penn State fan knows, the quarterback is integral. Fitz broke down Allar.

“Of course, everyone’s looking at Drew Allar,” Fitz said. “He’s the five star stud from that class and is likely going to be the starting quarterback, so all eyes are on him. But beyond that, Drew Shelton came in at offensive tackle last year, started the last several games, which you don’t do as an offensive tackle as a true freshman.

“Dani Dennis Sutton, I think, is the one that turns the corner this year. Like he was good last year but still a freshman last year, former five star by the On3 Industry rankings. But I think he had a tremendous spring, maybe a better spring than anybody else on the roster.”

The Class of 2022 is integral to Penn State since there was a lot of experience to go around from last season. The 2023 class might have to wait while the other young bucks take control of the proverbial Penn State car.

“And you just keep going down that class of 2022,” Fitz said. “And there’s guys that can pop up. JB Nelson was a junior college addition, he can play a bunch as a left guard and Cam Miller, third corner right now which is saying something because Kalen King and Johnny Dixon are two pretty good corners in front of him. 

“So it’s a class where yes, there’s gonna be some attrition. There’s gonna be some guys that don’t hit. This is college football recruiting. But the instant impact and the rollover into the future is setting the table for a potential championship run.”

Championship run means everything for this Penn State class and young talent. Not just topping the likes of Michigan and Ohio State.

“I mean Big Ten Championship, College Football Playoff, national championship, all that kind of stuff,” Fitz said. “It’s a little bit early to say that, but this is the kind of talent that they’re looking to stack and this is the kind of talent that they’re looking to build around for the next couple of years because I think they have the window where this roster is as talented as any as James Franklin‘s had since 2017. And that was a pretty stacked roster in itself.”