Who will break out for Penn State in 2023? Our picks for the next potential star players

Penn State opens its season against West Virginia in a little over a week at Beaver Stadium, which means we’re winding down our roundtables for the preseason. This week is one of the most notable after we projected the offensive and defensive MVPs over the last two weeks. Now we’ll project who is ready to take the next step as a Nittany Lion.

Let’s take a look at our choices for Penn State’s breakout player this season.

Jon Sauber: TE Theo Johnson

If you read my story from earlier this week, this won’t be a surprise. Johnson has made major strides as a blocker to round out his game, but let’s be clear, his largest impact will be made catching passes.

The 6-foot-6, 264-pound weapon is the correct answer to who will be the third player to step up alongside wide receivers KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Harrison Wallace III as a pass catcher. Johnson can flex out in the slot and be a matchup nightmare for defenses whose linebackers are too slow and safeties are too small to handle him in the passing game. It doesn’t stop there, though, because he can play as an outside receiver and bully cornerbacks too, especially in the red zone. I’ll go on the record now and say Johnson is going to break Mike Gesicki’s single season receiving yard record for a tight end at Penn State. Gesicki had 679 — Johnson could blow by that mark and end up over 800.

Josh Moyer: CB Johnny Dixon

Most eyes in the secondary are understandably focused on CB Kalen King, a second-team Walter Camp All-American, now that 2022 standout Joey Porter Jr. is on the Pittsburgh Steelers. But some are forgetting that opposing quarterbacks will likely avoid targeting King and will have to look elsewhere — meaning Dixon is poised to earn some serious opportunities.

Dixon would’ve started at most other Big Ten programs last year, and he’s ready to break out this year. He’s a jack-of-all-trades, a 6-foot corner who excels in man coverage but won’t lose his place in zone either. Wideout KeAndre Lambert-Smith said he often lines up against the redshirt senior and told Dixon he wouldn’t be surprised if he earns All-America honors this season. I wouldn’t be either. With a never-is-enough mentality, an offseason of improvement and a serious opportunity, Dixon is definitely going to upgrade his end-of-season honors over last year’s All-Big Ten honorable mention (media). I’d be more surprised if he didn’t break out.

Matt DiSanto: DE Dani Dennis-Sutton

If his freshman year is any consideration, Dennis-Sutton is primed to take a big leap in his second go-around with the Nittany Lions this fall. The former five-star recruit out of Maryland flashed at times last year by appearing in all 13 games and generating 17 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks and an interception. Though his numbers might not impress immediately, Dennis-Sutton offered enough impact plays and disruptions to signal he’s ready to make the jump and become a full-fledged star.

It’s unlikely Dennis-Sutton receives many starts this season if Adisa Isaac and Chop Robinson remain healthy and poised to lead the defensive line’s edges. However, Dennis-Sutton should remain near the top of Penn State’s rotation to get after the passer, potentially setting up plenty of chances to rush the quarterback and make his case as one of the Nittany Lions’ premier defensive players.