Critical Development: Penn State defenders who need to take a step this offseason

The Penn State football team is trying to reload for the upcoming season in a brand new Big Ten Conference. While the teams have changed, the goal of building a football team with answers to any problem is still the goal. But as Penn State head coach James Franklin stated this offseason, his is not a transfer portal program. While trying to fill select needs through the portal, the Lions will still rely on internal talent development. With that in mind, let’s highlight the most critical players whose development could help change the fortunes of the Penn State team for the better next fall. Today, we’ll focus on players who weren’t starters in 2023 that could bolster the team’s lineup. We’ll pick one defensive player at each position that makes sense.