Penn State football with 11 players named to preseason watchlists

After finishing 2022 with an 11-2 record and a Rose Bowl win, Penn State is one of the most hyped-up programs entering 2023.

The Nittany Lions begin the season ranked as the No. 7 team in the nation and the third highest behind Michigan and Ohio State, who rank second and third, respectively.

Earlier this month, James Franklin said his program was “three-deep” at nearly every position, and several players received preseason award nominations.

Here’s a breakdown of every play named to a preseason watchlist:

Running back Nicholas Singleton: Doak Walker Award, Maxwell Award, Paul Hornung Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award

In just his freshman season, Nicholas Singleton emerged as one of the top running backs in the nation. Singleton ran for 1,061 yards while setting a Penn State freshman record with 12 rushing touchdowns.

He became the 16th Nittany Lion to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, and he joined Saquon Barkley and D.J. Dozier as the only freshmen to reach 1,000 rushing yards in a season.

Singleton led the offense as he was named to four preseason watchlists, including the Walter Camp Player of the Year, given to the best player in College Football.

Running back Kaytron Allen: Doak Walker Award

Singleton wasn’t the only true freshman running back that burst onto the scene, as Kaytron Allen also had a dominant first season in Happy Valley.

Allen ran for 867 yards and 10 touchdowns as he and Singleton became the first true freshman teammates in Big Ten history, each with 700 or more rushing yards in a single season.

Allen enjoyed a breakout three-touchdown performance against Indiana, and he became the first Penn State freshman with three rushing touchdowns in a game since Austin Scott against Kent State in 2003.

The Norfolk, Virginia, native was nominated for the Doak Walker Award, which is given to the top running back in the country.

Wide receiver Dante Cephas: Biletnikoff Award

After losing Mitchell Tinsley and Parker Washington to the NFL, the blue and white needed to reload at receiver, and it did just that, bringing Kent State transfer Dante Cephas.

Over the past two seasons, Cephas racked up 130 catches for 1,984 and 12 touchdowns. After enrolling this summer, it’s unclear what Cephas’ role will be in the early part of the season, but he has big play potential for the Nittany Lions.

Cephas was named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list, given to the best wide receiver in College Football.

Tight end Theo Johnson: Mackey Award

Penn State has produced several NFL products at tight end, and Theo Johnson appears to be next in line.

Johnson split targets with Brenton Strange in 2022, but Johnson will be the primary tight end in 2023.

The Windsor, Ontario, native missed the first two contests of 2022, but he finished the campaign making 20 grabs for 328 yards and a career-high four touchdowns.

Penn State is yet to have a player win the Mackey Award, given to the nation’s top tight end.

Offensive tackle Olu Fashanu: Outland Trophy, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award

Many people around the college football landscape were surprised when Olu Fashanu announced his return to Penn State and for good reason.

Fashanu was projected as one of the top offensive tackles in the NFL Draft, but he wants to earn his degree.

Having the Waldorf, Maryland, native was a massive win for the Nittany Lions, and he has been nominated for several of the most prestigious awards in the game.

Defensive end Chop Robinson: Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Award

Chop Robinson spent just one season at Maryland before entering the transfer portal and eventually landing in Happy Valley.

In a talented defensive end room, Robinson shined as he notched 26 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two pass breakups, three quarterback hurries, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble.

The Gaithersburg, Maryland, native heads into his second season with the blue and white as a pivotal piece on the defensive line.

Defensive tackle Dvon Ellies: Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, Wuerffel Trophy

With P.J. Mustipher off to the NFL, the Nittany Lions are looking for players to step up on the defensive line.

Ellies played in 13 games last season, and he collected 15 total tackles, including two tackles for loss, a sack, one forced fumble, and a pass breakup.

However, his actions off the field garnered his preseason recognition. Ellies received Penn State’s Public Service Award in 2022.

Linebacker Curtis Jacobs: Butkus Award

Curtis Jacobs came to Penn State as one of the top players in the class but has flown under the radar with the emergence of Abdul Carter.

Jacobs started in 12 contests in 2022, and he tallied 52 tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, two pass breakups, and an interception returned for a touchdown.

Jacobs is a crucial piece for Manny Diaz’s defense, and he’s one of the top returning linebackers in the country.

Linebacker Abdul Carter: Bednarik Award, Butkus Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Award

In 2022, Abdul Carter cemented himself as one of the best linebackers as he posted 56 tackles with 10.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, four pass breakups and five quarterback hurries in his freshman season.

Carter Joined current defensive line coach Deion Barnes as the only Penn State freshman to record 10+ tackles for loss and 6+ sacks in a season.

The now sophomore has sky-high expectations for his second year with the Nittany Lions.

Cornerback Kalen King: Bednarik Award, Jim Thorpe Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Award

Kalen King and Joey Porter Jr. formed a dynamic duo in Penn State’s secondary last season, but the latter was taken in the second round of the draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

King returns to Happy Valley as arguably the top cornerback in the nation and is primed for a dominant 2023.

The Detroit, Michigan, native played in every game last season while tallying 30 tackles, three tackles for loss, 18 pass breakups, three interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Punter Riley Thompson: Ray Guy Award

In years past, punting hasn’t been an area of concern for Franklin in his staff, with Jordan Stout and Barney Amor being amongst the top punters in the country.

However, the Nittany Lions added Riley Thompson, who transferred from Florida Atlantic.

Thompson averaged 45.4 yards per punt, which ranked No. 12 in the nation, while he had 15 punts over 50 yards.

Alex Rocco is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email alex.rocco1702@gmail.com.