Penn State’s Dani Dennis-Sutton Will Be the Best Defensive End in College Football. Just Ask Him

Dani Dennis-Sutton is one confident 6-foot-5, 272-pound physical specimen of a defensive end. Correction: Not “a” defensive end…The Best Defensive End in College Football.

“I’ll say right now I’m in the best shape I’ve been in physically and mentally,” the third-year Nittany Lion said after practice on Tuesday, 11 days before Penn State’s 2024 season-opener at West Virginia.

“I mean, I’ve always spoken that into existence as far as confidence. I might not have been confident internally, but I was speaking that and making that come true. But now, I really am truly confident that I’m going to be the best in the country.”

DDS first Tweeted that sentiment almost 900 days ago, on March 8, 2022, when he stated that, “I will be the best defensive end in CFB.” He pinned that Tweet, giving it a home atop his Twitter (X) page for 29 months. Then, three days ago, he Tweeted it again, accompanied by this quote, “Standing on it.”

Why? “I just wanted to put that out there for myself,” Dennis-Sutton replied. “I have big expectations for myself, and now I just gotta prove it.”

It really shouldn’t come as that big of a surprise DDS feels that way. He was rated the No. 1 high school player in Maryland by 247Sports, On3 and Rivals back in 2022. (A native of Millsboro, Delaware, he was a two-time team captain at famed McDonough School in Maryland.)

And though he has just three starts as a Penn Stater, he pushed NFL first-rounder Chop Robinson and third-rounder Adisa Issac for playing time throughout 2023. And, in two seasons, he has had 6.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for a loss.

“I’ve learned a ton from Chop and Adisa,” said DDS, noting that their success can be his as well. “Just seeing them taking it the next step, following what they did, because obviously, they were successful at this level.”

In making the pronouncement, DDS does not come across as boastful or cocky in any regard. He is almost matter-of-fact about it. But, he’s also earnest and honest and a pretty deep thinker, on and off the field, having made the dean’s list last football season.

His mantra has been steady and methodical: If I build it, I will be No. 1.

“I think my training, and practice, like going out and winning every single rep at practice is the next step to just doing it again,” he said. “I’ve been winning throughout all of training camp. I haven’t had any issues. I’ve just been training my behind off. So, now that football is here, I know everything that’s coming. I’m in Year 3 of the system. Physically, I’m ready. Mentally, I know what’s going on.”

WHAT ABOUT CARTER?

There’s another twist to the DDS as No. 1 saga. His name? Abdul Carter.

Carter has made a much-ballyhooed move from linebacker to defensive end. Carter is rough and tough, fast and furious. Speaking of which, how does he feel about Dennis-Sutton setting his sights on being the top defensive end in the country — when some experts think that Carter himself has the potential to be just that?

“I’m sure Abdul is always the same, same as me,” DDS shared. “Confident, you know? I mean, we…I…think everybody should have that type of mindset, like, ‘I’m going to be the best man in the country.’ If you settle for being the third- or fourth-best, to me that’s not a dominating mindset that Penn State has here. We’re here to be No. 1. We’re here to win the Big Ten. So, you know, I don’t think it’s surprising. I think Abdul has the same mindset as me.”

Carter says he’s grateful for what DDS offers at the opposite defensive end. Though their styles may be different, Carter thinks they are alike in all the right ways. And in many ways, Carter is grateful for the presence of DDS.

“We complement each other. We push each other. We compete against each other,” Carter says. “I can say that Dani is the ultimate teammate, on and off the field. You’re always going to get his 100% effort, his 100% energy. He is always going to tell you to do the right thing. He is always going to step up and make up for you if you make a mistake.”

And in the process, Carter said that Dennis-Sutton is teaching him the nuances of the position.

“When it comes to athletic ability, we both have that,” said Carter. “But with me moving to defensive end, there are certain techniques I need to learn to really dominate at a high level. And Dani definitely helps with that.”

WHAT DEION SAYS

More than anyone on the Penn State staff or roster, Deion Barnes understands and appreciates what DDS and Cater add to the D-line — and to each other. A former Penn State defensive end himself, Barnes was a three-year letter-winner at D-end for the Nittany Lions and was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2012. He also spent two years in the NFL.

With Carter’s switch to defensive end and the accompanying publicity, I asked Barnes if DDS was being forgotten. Barnes laughed. Loudly.

“I hope the other teams forget him,” Barnes said, “because he’ll surprise them with what he can do. But people who watch the film will know what he can do and won’t count him out.”

Barnes thinks Carter’s move will reap countless benefits for the Nittany Lions across the line – and into the linebacker group and the secondary. “Abdul moving helps the entire group, to be honest with you,” Barnes said. “It helps us all. Everybody will be elevated.”

THE DDS SCOUTING REPORT

Here is how Barnes and defensive coordinator Tom Allen break down DDS as a D-end:

BARNES: “What are his strengths? His strength. His energy. His tenacity. His discipline on the football field. And how big and powerful he is for a defensive end — it’s hard for offensive tackles to block him. He understands the game very well. His football IQ is high.”

ALLEN: “His size is really one of his strengths, without question. He’s a tough match-up on all tight ends in the Big Ten, and that needs to be the case. I want him to be disruptive. I want him to be just absolutely a guy that [opponents] feel like they got to do something to handle him schematically to take him out. [Carter and DDS] complementing each other is huge. I think those two guys are going to play well off each other, without question. We need them to. I think they’re both special players, and I expect big things from them both.”

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