PFF’s Top 50: Penn State trails only Texas, Bama in player count

A post-spring favorite to be ranked as a preseason top-five team in 2025, Penn State has been a frequent presence on summer lists surveying the best players in college football. This week, that spotlight returned with the selection of four Nittany Lions among Pro Football Focus College’s Top 50 players for the upcoming season.

That level of representation is rare.

Texas and Alabama lead all programs with five selections apiece. Penn State and Clemson each have four. Indiana and Miami follow with three, while Ohio State, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Florida, Duke, and Oregon each have two.

Aligned with PFF’s recent positional rankings – listing the top 10 returning players at 11 different offensive and defensive positions – here’s a look at the Penn State players who made the cut, their placements, and how those stack up against their positional rankings.

Kaytron Allen, A.J. Harris, and Vega Ioane were all recognized among the top 10 at their respective positions but didn’t crack the Top 50.

Penn State in the PFF Top 50

No. 22 – Drew Allar

The first Penn State player to appear, Drew Allar ranks No. 4 among quarterbacks and holds that same slot on the Top 50 list. Clemson’s Cade Klubnik leads the quarterback group at No. 7 overall, followed by Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt (No. 17) and Miami’s Carson Beck (No. 21).

While his College Football Playoff semifinal showing against Notre Dame drew renewed criticism, it didn’t dampen expectations for his 2025 season. PFF credits Allar with 21 big-time throws and a 2.1 percent turnover-worthy play rate.

“With a loaded roster surrounding him, he has the potential to take the Nittany Lions on an even deeper run this season.”

No. 31 – Nick Singleton

Next on the list, Nick Singleton checks in at No. 31, trailing only Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love (No. 4) and Louisville’s Isaac Brown (No. 28) among running backs – three of just five to make the Top 50 overall.

PFF highlighted Singleton’s versatility as a key differentiator:

“Singleton complements his rushing skillset with dynamic receiving ability. He tallied 682 receiving yards over the past two seasons – the fifth-most among FBS running backs and the most among returning Power Four rushers. His seven receiving touchdowns are also tied for the most in the nation during that span. Singleton has great size for the position at 6-foot-1 and 226 pounds, as well as the speed to take the ball to the house from anywhere on the field.”

No. 39 – Zane Durant

Zane Durant ranks as the No. 2 interior defensive lineman and No. 39 overall. His spot on the list is a reflection of his disruptive presence and consistency, traits backed by “impressive power” and quickness “to shoot gaps effectively.”

Only two other interior linemen made the list: Clemson’s Peter Woods (No. 3) and Alabama’s Tim Keenan (No. 40).

No. 48 – Dani Dennis-Sutton

Ranked as the No. 9 defensive end, Dani Dennis-Sutton rounds out Penn State’s contingent at No. 48 overall.

“A former five-star recruit, Dennis-Sutton has the physical tools and explosiveness that teams covet at the position,” PFF writes. “With continued development, he could climb even higher on this list.”

Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles shares a similarly high opinion. Asked about moving forward without the unique talents of Abdul Carter, Knowles pointed to Dennis-Sutton’s potential to fill that void.

“I think Dani certainly has a chance,” Knowles said. “He seems like the next in line. Penn State has had those guys, whether it’s Chop or Abdul – Penn State has had those guys. And I think Dani is the next in that progression. He’s done well. We expect him to take a step forward, even in that regard.”

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