Dani Dennis-Sutton DE/EDGE Penn State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Dani Dennis-Sutton DE/EDGE Penn State
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 05/07/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.68 seconds (83%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 21.5 DOB: 12/23/2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |
| Last Updated: 05/07/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| 40 time: 4.68 seconds (83%*) | |
| Age: 21.5 DOB: 12/23/2003 | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 87.4 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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79% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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60% |
| Pass Rush: |
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82% |
| Run Defense: |
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78% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
1st - Late
Overall Rank:
#25
Position rank:
#6
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| College Games: 41 College Snaps: 1257 | ||
ESPN RATING: 85/100
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247 RATING: 98/100
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RIVALS RATING: 6.1 (100%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Gregory Rousseau - Miami |
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88% |
| Cameron Thomas - San Diego State |
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87% |
| JT Tuimoloau - Ohio State |
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86% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Dani Dennis-Sutton, a 6'5", 272-pound defensive end from Penn State, completed his junior season in 2024 with 42 tackles (24 solo), 13 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one interception, three pass breakups and nine quarterback hurries across 16 games. The Maryland native arrived at Penn State as a five-star recruit from McDonogh School, where he recorded 40 tackles (21 solo), six sacks and two forced fumbles as a sophomore. His junior year of high school was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and he missed part of his senior season due to injury.At Penn State, Dennis-Sutton appeared in all 13 games as a true freshman in 2022, registering 17 tackles (11 solo), 3 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries, one interception and a pass breakup, earning ESPN.com True Freshman All-American honors. His sophomore campaign in 2023 saw increased production with 26 tackles (17 solo), 3.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, two quarterback hurries, and a pass breakup in 13 games (three starts), earning third-team All-Big Ten recognition from coaches and honorable mention from media.
Born December 23, 2003, Dennis-Sutton has maintained strong academic performance throughout his collegiate career, earning Academic All-Big Ten honors in both his sophomore and junior seasons. His standout performances in 2024 included a six-tackle game with two sacks and a forced fumble against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff, and another six-tackle performance with 2.5 tackles for loss against Boise State. He finished tied for fifth in the Big Ten in tackles for loss (13.0) and tied for sixth in sacks (8.5) during his junior season.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Impressive physical frame with NFL-ready size and length that creates natural leverage points against offensive tackles when firing off the ball.
- Violent hand usage at the point of attack that allows him to stack and shed blockers efficiently in the run game, particularly when coming downhill to squeeze gaps.
- Consistently displays powerful bull rush technique that can walk offensive tackles back into the quarterback's lap when he gets proper hip alignment and leverage.
- Shows impressive closing burst to the quarterback when he creates separation from blockers, converting pressure into sacks rather than just hurries.
- Disciplined edge setter who maintains outside contain responsibilities and forces runners back inside to his waiting teammates, demonstrating solid football IQ.
- Motor runs hot throughout games, particularly evident in his relentless backside pursuit that shows up on film repeatedly against Wisconsin and USC.
- Versatile alignment skills allow him to operate from both 2-point and 3-point stances, giving defensive coordinators scheme flexibility in various fronts.
- Exceptional football character evidenced by steady year-over-year improvement and demonstrated ability to play his best football in the biggest moments.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Initial get-off lacks the explosive first-step quickness you'd expect from an elite edge rusher, sometimes neutralizing his length advantage before it can be utilized.
- Pass rush plan remains somewhat predictable, relying heavily on power moves without consistently effective counters when his initial rush gets stalled.
- Pad level tends to rise when engaged with blockers, compromising his leverage and allowing offensive linemen to get under his pads and control the point.
- Lateral agility in space appears somewhat limited when asked to drop into coverage or change direction quickly against misdirection plays.
- Shows occasional stiffness when trying to bend the edge, unable to consistently flatten his rush path to the quarterback when coming from wide alignments.
Scouting Report: Summary
Dennis-Sutton's thick frame and power base scream 5-technique in a 3-4 front where his ability to lock out and control blockers would shine immediately. The tape shows a defender who plays with natural leverage and understands gap integrity - you can see it clearly in how he maintained his ground against double teams versus Maryland and Notre Dame. His physical tools translate perfectly to heavy-handed defensive schemes where two-gapping and destroying blocking schemes matter more than pure edge bend.His development as an NFL pass rusher hinges on two factors evident throughout his Penn State film: timing his initial punch and diversifying his rush arsenal. When he fires his hands with precision - watch the strip-sack against Notre Dame - he overwhelms tackles with shocking power. The flashes are there, particularly in big moments, but his rush plan needs refinement to consistently threaten NFL tackles. Give him to a defensive line coach who teaches technique rather than just turning players loose, and you'll see his production surge by year two as his hands catch up to his natural power.
Watch how he stepped up in the playoffs against elite competition - that's not coincidence, it's a competitor rising to the moment. Teams running hybrid fronts will value his versatility even more, as his film shows he can reduce inside on passing downs or set a physical edge on early downs. Dennis-Sutton won't lead the league in sacks as a rookie, but he's going to be a day-one contributor who develops into a defensive cornerstone by his second contract.
Written By:
K.C. Martinez (Big Ten)
How other scouting services rate Dani Dennis-Sutton (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
29.8
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
7.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.