How important is Penn State’s 2022 recruiting class to its success in 2024? If the group delivers this season, many could be in next year’s NFL Draft.
The Senior Bowl has released its 2025 preseason watch list of players who will be considered for this year’s All-Star Week in Mobile, Alabama. It’s a huge list and also includes younger students who are now eligible for the Senior Bowl as long as they remain draft eligible. Thirteen Penn State football players made the 2025 Senior Bowl watch list. Notably, seven of them were part of the Nittany Lions’ 2022 recruiting class: quarterback Drew Allar, running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton, defensive ends Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton, offensive lineman JB Nelson (who transferred from Lackawanna College) and safety KJ Winston.
Penn State also added receiver Julian Fleming (transfer from Ohio State), linebacker Kobe King, safety Jaylen Reed, offensive lineman Nolan Rucci (transfer from Wisconsin), tight end Tyler Warren and offensive lineman Sal Wormley to the roster.
According to the Senior Bowl, the preseason watch list is “a starting point.” “Film is the most important criterion in our selection process and each player will be re-evaluated in the fall based on his film,” the Senior Bowl said. said in a statement.
Penn State’s 2022 recruiting class, which ranked sixth in the national poll, 247Sports Compositeforms the basis for the team’s path to the 2024 College Football Playoffs. At least 12 players from this class will be starters or key players in a starting rotation for the Nittany Lions. Some are already high on the NFL draft boards. Carter, for example, is the No. 2 Overall outlookt on the first NFL Big Board of draft analyst Dane Brugler at The Athletic. Allar is number 50. And ESPN counts Allen among its top 100 players in college football this season.
Penn State’s 2022 recruiting class includes several key players who could earn an invitation to the Senior Bowl. Defensive tackle Zane Durant is a central figure in the Nittany Lions’ front four, and Drew Shelton will replace Olu Fashanu as left tackle in Penn State’s offense. Receivers Kaden Saunders and Omari Evans are hoping for breakout seasons, as is cornerback Cam Miller.
James Franklin begins his 11th season as Penn State’s head coach with a roster that returns 16 starters, including seven each on offense and defense. Allar, a preseason nominee for the Davey O’Brien and Maxwell awards, returns for his second season as the Nittany Lions’ starting quarterback. Singleton and Allen, who were essentially co-starters last season, are candidates for the Doak Walker Award and Warren is a nominee for the Mackey Award as a tight end.
Senior Bowl week is scheduled for the last week of January, with the game airing on February 1 on the NFL Network.
Penn State opens the 2024 season on August 31 at West Virginia. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET on FOX.
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Penn State on SI is the go-to source for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Editor Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, following three coaching teams, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on X (or Twitter) @MarkWogenrich.
