Penn State talent, challenge in 2023 showcased on Sporting News preseason All-American teams
The talent on Penn State football’s 2023 roster is evident based on The Sporting News’ preseason All-American teams. But, so too is the challenge the team faces when it comes to winning the Big Ten and almost assuredly guaranteeing a spot in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history.
The Nittany Lions are one of three programs with four or more players on the two teams. Left tackle Olu Fashanu and cornerback Kalen King made the first team. Running back Nicholas Singleton and defensive end Chop Robinson are on the second.
“Fashanu returned to Penn State for one more season and will be the anchor of a strong offensive line,” Sporting News’ Bill Bender writes in explaining his Fashanu pick. “He did not allow a sack last season. The three-star recruit has developed into an imposing force, and this is just his second season as a full-time starter. He did not allow a quarterback pressure in 88 pass-blocking snaps against Ohio State and Michigan, according to PFF.”
Adds Bender on King being included:
“The 5-foot-11, 187-pound cornerback had a breakout season in 2022 opposite Joey Porter Jr., and now will be the Nittany Lions leader in the secondary. He totaled 21 pass breakups, which led the Big Ten and ranked third in the FBS. He allowed just one TD catch all season. King had an outstanding finish to the season against Michigan State and Utah – games where he had two interceptions and allowed six catches on 18 targets.”
Penn State stacks up well against top peers
The other two schools with four or more players across the two teams are Ohio State, which had five total, including four first-teamers, and Georgia, which also had four total. Michigan had three, as did LSU and USC. Seven other schools had two. No conference had more players total than the Big Ten with 15.
It’s yet another sign on a long list of them indicating what Penn State is up against in 2023. It’s also no surprise, of course. However, it’s also a reminder of how well the Lions have recruited the high school and transfer portal ranks of late before developing players once they arrive. Being among the teams with the most preseason All-Americans, even if it is only one outlet’s opinion, is new territory for the program in the Franklin era. All that matters is how many make the end-of-season teams, of course. But everyone must start somewhere.
For Penn State, this latest list of the game’s biggest stars makes clear how talented it is in 2023. It also leaves no doubt about what kind of players, and teams, the program will need to beat to reach the sport’s pinnacle this fall.
