Penn State’s defensive ends have been a standard of success for decades, but have been particularly strong in the last 15-20 seasons, with seven former defensive ends currently playing in the NFL (including All-Pro Micah Parsons and 2025 third overall pick Abdul Carter). Which players are poised to become the next breakout stars?
#### _Note: This post was initially going to begin by discussing Max Granville, but alas, with his ACL injury, he will not be playing in 2025. Feel free to partially blame me for his misfortune._
### **Zuriah Fisher**
Despite being a fifth-year player, Fisher hasn’t seen the field much in his Penn State career due to injury. His best season statistically was in 2023, where he appeared in 13 games, making 17 tackles and recording 3.5 sacks. He was expected to compete for serious playing time in 2024, but suffered a “significant injury” and missed the entire season. Fisher should start opposite Dani Dennis-Sutton in 2025, and can make a sizable impact at the line of scrimmage if he is fully recovered from his setback.
### **Jaylen Harvey**
As with all three players on this list, Harvey comes conditionally. However, this potential breakout status is more due to youth and inexperience rather than an injury history. He appeared in the maximum five games in 2024, recording a tackle for loss against Purdue and a solo tackle against Maryland. Harvey is on this list as someone to watch in the future, but don’t be surprised if Harvey is pressed into increased playing time with the loss of Granville.
### **Enai White**
White was heavily pursued by Penn State coming out of high school in Philadelphia, but chose to attend [Texas A&M](https://www.goodbullhunting.com) in 2022. After two seasons on the field with the Aggies and missing all but one game in 2024 with an ACL injury, White arrives in Happy Valley to be coached by perhaps the best defensive line coach in the country, Deion Barnes. Although he is not expected to start, but White should be in the mix for playing time given the rotations Penn State defensive linemen experience. At 6’5’’, 264 pounds, White has the potential to be a gamewrecker if, like Fisher, he can regain his explosiveness following injury.