Skip to main content
penn-state logo

Penn State puts 11 on Pro Football Focus' preseason All-Big Ten teams

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•07/18/23•

GregPickel

olu-fashanu-penn-state-football-winter-workouts
Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu watches teammates lift inside the Lasch Building on March 3, 2023. (Pickel/BWI)

Penn State football is widely considered a top-10 team entering the 2023 season. Part of the reason for that is the talent the Lions have across their roster. It starts in the offensive backfield, carries over to the secondary, and can be found just about everywhere in between those two spots on the field.

Pro Football Focus’ preseason All-Big Ten teams are the latest example of the above paragraph being true. A total of 11 Nittany Lions landed on one of the outlet’s three teams. The list is led by offensive tackle Olu Fashanu, defensive end Chop Robinson, and cornerback Kalen King, who were all first-team selections. Running back Nicholas Singleton and linebacker Abdul Carter were both second-team choices. And, quarterback Drew Allar made the third-team along with receiver Dante Cephas, tight end Theo Johnson, tackle Caedan Wallace, linebacker Curtis Jacobs, cornerback Johnny Dixon, and Singleton as a kick returner.

You can see the full PFF All-Big Ten preseason team here. Only Michigan (20) and Ohio State (15) had more players listed than Penn State. The Lions put 13 on Athlon’s preseason All-Big Ten team, as well, as the hype continues to build around head coach James Franklin’s program ahead of his 10th season in State College.

Countdown to kickoff continues at Penn State

Penn State will leave for Big Ten Media Days a week from Tuesday. Franklin, Fashanu, defensive end Adisa Isaac, and safety Keaton Ellis will speak with reporters on Wednesday at Lucas Oil Stadium at Indianapolis, Ind. That is the unofficial season kickoff event. Then, preseason camp will start roughly a week later to truly push the ball forward on the 2023 season.

Penn State has some recruiting business to take care of first, however. It will wait to see if it can land four-star lineman Liam Andrews this coming Friday. The Massachusetts native who will play defense at the next level is picking between the Lions, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. PSU leads om the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine for the 6-foot-4, 275-pound top 100 prospect in the On3 Industry Rankings for the Class of 2024.

Then, on Saturday, Miami, Fla., four-star defensive tackle T.A. Cunningham will make his college choice public. The senior-to-be is picking between  Oklahoma, Miami, Penn State, Texas A&M, and Michigan. PSU leads on the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine in that recruitment, as well.

Penn State opens the 2023 season opposite West Virginia on Sept. 2. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. on NBC.

You may also like