REPORT: Potential Penn State starting defender cleared for fall camp return

Penn State football is expected to get a key piece of its defensive front back in time for the start of fall camp. According to reports from Lions247’s Tyler Donohue, redshirt senior defensive lineman Alonzo Ford has been cleared from injury and will return to the field when the Nittany Lions begin practice in August.

Ford missed the Nittany Lions’ College Football Playoff run and all of spring practice after suffering a long-term injury against Minnesota on November 23. Previously, he was sidelined for the entire 2023 season with an injury.

“Very good against the run,” James Franklin said upon his return last summer. “I think as he continues to gain confidence and get his body back from that amount of time off with his injury, I think he’ll get better and better and better in the pass game.”

A transfer from Old Dominion, Ford recorded 16 tackles, including 3.5 for loss, over 11 games for Penn State last fall. The Richmond, Virginia, native earned All-Sun Belt honors with the Monarchs in 2022.

After losing Dvon J-Thomas, Coziah Izzard, and Hakeem Beamon since last fall, Ford’s veteran presence will be valuable for the Penn State defensive interior in 2025. In fall camp, Ford should be competing for a spot in the first rotation alongside returning starter Zane Durant. Deion Barnes will then turn to a cadre of young and unproven Nittany Lions, including redshirt freshmen Xavier Gilliam and Liam Andrews and redshirt junior Kaleb Artis. The unit also added Michigan transfer Owen Wafle this winter.

Penn State football will kick off fall camp in a little over a month with the August 30 season opener against Nevada now 10 weeks away.

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