Penn State loses veteran DE to NFL draft after waiver denial.

Penn State loses veteran DE to NFL draft after waiver denial.

After a last-minute loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff Semifinal, James Franklin is working to maintain Penn State’s national championship-caliber roster. Defensive end Smith Vilbert’s NCAA medical waiver for a seventh season was approved, but defensive end Amin Vanover’s waiver was denied, meaning he will enter the NFL Draft. Vanover’s departure leaves a significant hole in the defense, especially as he was expected to start in 2025 after the departure of Abdul Carter to the NFL.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With Vanover gone, Penn State’s defensive line will rely on Vilbert, Texas A&M transfer Enai White, and redshirt freshman Max Granville, who reclassified into the 2024 recruiting class. The loss of Vanover adds to the defensive challenges, as the Nittany Lions will also lose several secondary players, including safeties Jaylen Reed and Kevin Winston Jr. and cornerback Jalen Kimber.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While the talent in the winter transfer portal was underwhelming, Franklin opted to allocate resources toward defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’s lucrative contract, hoping he can develop the young talent on defense. Knowles, who has experience with a three-down lineman defense, may accelerate this shift in Happy Valley, with Dani Dennis-Sutton and interior defensive lineman Zane Durant being key pieces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the offensive side, Franklin succeeded in keeping most of the 2024 roster intact, with only one offensive line starter lost and the return of key players like Drew Allar, Nicholas Singleton, and Kaytron Allen. Despite defensive uncertainties, the offense provides stability, allowing the team to lean on a high-powered attack while the defense transitions under Knowles’s guidance. Penn State’s success in 2025 will depend on developing its young defensive talent and adjusting to a new defensive system.