Which Penn State players made Bruce Feldman's annual Freaks List? Here's the rundown

One of the clearest signs every August that college football is almost back is Bruce Feldman’s annual ‘Freaks List’ for The Athletic. The longtime college football writer who doubles as a sideline reporter for FOX has been curating and publishing a list of the sport’s “strongest, fastest and most physical players” since 2005. Penn State players have long been part of what started as a top 10 and is now a top 100. And, this year is no different.

Five Nittany Lions made the 2025 list, starting with defensive tackle Zane Durant. He checks in at No. 8 on a rundown that starts with Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. It’s the third time the Penn State senior has made the cut; he was No. 18 in 2024 and No. 38 in 2023. While shouting out Durant, Feldman also highlighted a younger defensive tackle in position coach Deion Barnes’ room.

“In 2024, Durant had 42 tackles, 11 TFLs and three sacks,” Feldman writes. “The 6-1, 290-pound senior from Florida has run a 4.66 40 and hit a max velocity of 21.1 mph. He clocked a 4.43 shuttle time, broad jumped 9-10 and vertical jumped 30 1/2 inches. He’s bench pressed 425 pounds and squatted 660. This offseason, he power cleaned 345 pounds. Ty Blanding is another Freaky DT; at 6-1, 292 pounds, the sophomore ran a 4.82 40 this offseason and squatted 675 pounds.”

Blanding is one of many Penn State defensive tackles aiming to earn a bigger role this year behind Durant and Alonzo Ford.

You can read Bruce Feldman’s full ‘Freaks List’ article here.

Next up on Feldman’s list is Lions senior running back Nick Singleton. He is at No. 19.

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“The guy who holds the school’s all-time rushing TD mark is Saquon Barkley, who had 43 in three seasons,” Feldman writes. “Barkley, No. 1 on the 2017 Freaks List, ran a 4.33 40, power cleaned 405 pounds and bench pressed 405. Singleton is close to those numbers and better in the bench press, doing 435. He improved his power clean to 395. His 40 is 4.35, shuttle time is 4.18. His max velocity is 23.5 mph. He broke Barkley’s running back record in the squat last year, doing 665. He did 660 this offseason. Singleton’s broad jump also went up four inches to 10-5.”

Penn State junior linebacker Tony Rojas is next up at No. 30. Junior cornerback Elliot Washington checks in at No. 47. And, redshirt senior tight end Khalil Dinkins is No. 71.

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“The 5-11, 205-pound junior is one of the Freakiest DBs in the country,” Feldman writes on Washington. “He set the Penn State record for DBs in the squat, doing 565 pounds in his freshman year. He’s clocked a 4.32 40 and this offseason, broad jumped 10-7, vertical jumped 37 1/2 inches and hit 23 mph on the GPS.”