From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top 10 picks, down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Penn State EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton.
No. 33 DANI DENNIS-SUTTON – 6055, 256 POUNDS (SENIOR)
MEASUREMENTS
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Dani Dennis-Sutton 6055/256 33 1/2 10 1/8 N/A
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
4.63 1.64 N/A 6.90
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
10’11” 39.5 N/A
THE GOOD
– Ideal frame for a defensive end
– Long arms help him control blockers and keep his chest clean
– Length enhances long-arm rush and edge-setting ability
– Significant bull rush and long-arm move to overpower tackles and collapse the pocket
– Has significant leg and hip drive to push guys bigger than him backwards
– Forces runs back inside and can seal the backside
– Maintains outside leverage often
– Keeps his hips square to the line of scrimmage
– Prevents tackles from reaching him with a long-arm move into their chest
– Strikes with two-hand stab move that locks out the blocker with good grip strength
– Reads where the running back goes well
– Keeps a wide base and stays relatively square to anchor well
– Pursues plays from behind and tracks outside runs
– Really good punch on the ball to force fumble recoveries
– Experience lining up out of a 2 and 3-point stance
THE BAD
– Still working on a club-rip move and inside counters
– Pass rush plan is a work in progress, as he often wins in the same ways
– Limited bend and flexibility in his ankles
– Struggles to win with pure speed around the arc
– His first-step quickness is good, but not elite
– Bull rush and long-arm moves become predictable quickly
– Tends to play at a high pad level when someone engages him
– Lateral agility and change-of-direction skills are below average for the position
– Strong tackles who anchor well can wash him out in the run game
– Occasionally locks onto blockers before identifying the run concept
– Vulnerable to cutback lanes
– Can focus too much on extension with tackles and doesn’t shed blocks
STATS
– 38 starts and appeared in 54 games over a 4-year career at Penn State University
– Career: 127 tackles (78 solo), 34.5 TFLs, 126 pressures, 23.5 sacks, 8 PBUs, 1 batted pass, 2 INTs, 7 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 17 missed tackles, 65 run stops, 14 penalties
– 2025: Started in 13 games
– 42 tackles (26 solo), 12 TFL, 51 pressures, 8.5 sacks, 1 batted pass, 0 INTs, 3 forced fumbles, 0 fumble recoveries, 11 missed tackles, 29 run stops, 6 penalties
– 77.1 run defense grade (5.8 percent run stop win rate; 3.1 average depth of tackle) per PFF
– 79.3 pass rush grade (16.0 percent pass rush win rate; 22.9 percent true pass rush win rate) per PFF
INJURY HISTORY
– 2024: Suffered a right leg/groin injury in the first half of the Oct. 26th Wisconsin game; imited or missed time in the following two games, but still played through the injury
– 2021: Missed part of his senior high school season due to a dislocated elbow
BACKGROUND
– DOB: 12/23/2003 (23 years old)
– Born in Millsboro, Delaware, and played football at McDonogh School in Maryland
– Selected to play in the 2022 All-American Bowl and the Polynesian Bowl
– Junior season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
– Rated a 5-star prospect by Rivals (number one prospect in Maryland)
– Also lettered in basketball and track and field
– Was on the honor roll all four years of high school
– Full name is Dani Deshon Dennis-Sutton
– Grew up with his parents and two sisters
– Majored in communications at Penn State with a career goal of owning his own gym
– Passionate about fitness and often uses an Alter G machine for conditioning
– Enjoys meditation, photography, reading, watching Netflix, studying edge rushers, hunting, and fishing
– Wants to train with Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons
– Has participated in community service work with the Dagsboro Boys & Girls Club
TAPE BREAKDOWN
Dani Dennis-Sutton is a long, powerful defensive end with an NFL-ready frame and strong edge-setting ability. His game revolves around power, effort, and length rather than bend or twitch. When he converts speed-to-power effectively, he can collapse the pocket and overwhelm offensive tackles with bull rushes and long-arm moves.
He has real build-up speed off the edge, where you see him line up as a wide-nine at times, and can utilize his power and long arms to blow up the balance of offensive tackles or get underneath their pads to create leverage disadvantages.
pic.twitter.com/5CWJFXlsTz
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 11, 2026
Dennis-Sutton showed some real progress at the Senior Bowl with getting pressure on the inside shoulder of guys with cross-chop and rip moves, but at his worst, he’s always going to be a second effort guy with his high motor to never stop trying to go after the quarterback.
pic.twitter.com/kB488tnk1g
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 11, 2026
pic.twitter.com/oVhx4yS4ij
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 11, 2026
He’s an above-average run defender who holds the point of attack and pops guys with power, but also knows how long to hold on to blocks before shedding to go after the runner.
pic.twitter.com/JIx2tgtNpu
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 11, 2026
His coverage skills showed promise in that he can keep up with guys in a straight line, but if he has to change directions, he’s in trouble and often loses his balance. He made some nice plays below and probably won’t be tasked with this often in the NFL.
pic.twitter.com/e29ym2xFnw
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 11, 2026
pic.twitter.com/aCf7fFfIF2
— Happy Days (@Jh86Guy) March 11, 2026
CONCLUSION
Dani Dennis-Sutton has a lot of the physical traits that teams look for in a defensive end and edge rusher. He just doesn’t have the elite bend, get-off, flexibility, and pass-rush arsenal that make him a complete player. His game is built upon power that he uses to collapse the pocket, and he sets a mean edge as a run defender. With improved hand usage and developing counter-moves, he could develop into a reliable 8-10 sack power rusher who can anchor a run defense.
His optimal role would be as a 4-3 strong-side base defensive end. But he could absolutely play as a 3-4 outside linebacker with his athleticism and strengths against the run. He also showed the ability to soft-drop in coverage when needed.
He would be a rotational edge rusher in Pittsburgh’s defense in his first year as a run-down specialist and could be a full-time starter in year two or three, but it’s hard to see them investing high draft capital with a deep edge rusher room.
Stylistically and physically, he shares many similarities with Sam Hubbard. Guys who play with high effort and are power-based rushers, strong run defenders, but don’t have that motorcycle lean to get around great offensive tackles with speed and bend.
NFL Projection: Day 2
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 8.1 (Longtime Starter)
Grade Range: 7.9 – 8.3
Games Watched: at Ohio State (2025), at Michigan State (2025), at Oregon (2024), vs Notre Dame (2024)
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