If Dani Dennis-Sutton had followed 2022 classmate Abdul Carter out the door following the 2024 season, Penn State’s edge rusher position would be an area of concern heading in 2025. The Nittany Lions must still deal with the loss of Carter, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year who is expected to be an early first-round pick in the spring.

After a phenomenal playoff run, the Nittany Lions' dynamic edge rusher returns to pursue a championship in 2025.

Penn State football will return yet another key piece of its College Football Playoff semifinal team. Why is Dani Dennis-Sutton coming back?

He was overshadowed in 2024 by fellow defensive end Abdul Carter, but put together a strong season and had a big College Football Playoff that could have made him an early round pick. He finished the year with 8.5 sacks, 4.5 of which came in the playoff, along with an interception and forced fumble against Notre Dame.

The good news continues to file in for Penn State’s 2025 season, as defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton became the latest player to announce that he’ll be returning for his senior season. A former five-star recruit from Millsboro,

He is the fifth Nittany Lion to announce his return in 2025, joining Drew Allar, Zakee Wheatley, Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen.