Penn State top pass rusher, lineman sidelined to start spring ball

Penn State football returned to the practice field Tuesday evening. However, several prominent figures on both sides of the line of scrimmage are still not back in action as the Nittany Lions ramp up the second week of spring ball.

Speaking to the media following practice, James Franklin confirmed that senior defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton and redshirt senior offensive lineman Nolan Rucci are among the Nittany Lions not currently able to participate in spring activities.

“They’re just not available right now,” Franklin said.

Dennis-Sutton appeared in all 16 games, making 14 starts, last fall. An All-Big Ten honorable mention, the former five-star edge rusher finished fifth in the conference with 13 tackles for loss and tied for sixth with 8.5 sacks.

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A former Wisconsin transfer, Rucci played a critical role along the Penn State offensive front in 2024, making six starts and playing in all 16 games, primarily at right tackle.

Tuesday’s news adds to the list of veteran contributors who have yet to see the field this spring. Last week, Franklin noted that junior linebacker Tony Rojas and redshirt sophomore Andrew Rappleyea were also unavailable.

“Obviously, our doctors and trainers kind of have basic guidelines about how long certain injuries take to heal and things like that that they go by, but that’s hard to say,” Franklin said then. “But they’re not completely available to start spring ball. There’s some things they’ll be able to do, and there’s some things that they won’t.”

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