Despite a 2025 season that didn’t quite live up to expectations, Penn State still had plenty of individual standouts - and on Wednesday, the Big Ten made sure those efforts didn’t go unnoticed.
A total of 11 Nittany Lions earned All-Big Ten recognition for their work on defense and special teams. The honors, voted on by the conference’s coaches and media, were announced during a Big Ten Network broadcast. While no Penn State players took home the conference’s top individual awards or Coach of the Year honors, the list of recognized players speaks to the talent still present in Happy Valley, even during a transitional year.
Let’s take a closer look at the Nittany Lions who made their mark:
Dani Dennis-Sutton: A Disruptive Force Up Front
Senior defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton capped off his Penn State career with an All-Big Ten third team nod from both coaches and media. And it was well-earned.
He posted 38 tackles, including 10 for loss and 6.5 sacks, while also forcing three fumbles, breaking up three passes, and blocking three punts. That’s not just production - that’s impact across multiple phases of the game.
This wasn’t a one-year breakout, either. Dennis-Sutton has been a steady presence since his sophomore season and finishes his college career with 123 total tackles, 32.5 tackles for loss, and 21.5 sacks over 54 games, including 29 starts. A former five-star recruit, he leaves behind a legacy of consistency and big-play ability.
Amare Campbell: Instant Impact Transfer
Linebacker Amare Campbell arrived from North Carolina in the spring and wasted no time becoming a leader in the middle of Penn State’s defense. He earned All-Big Ten third team honors from the media and honorable mention from coaches after leading the team with 96 tackles, including 9.5 for loss and three sacks.
Campbell also delivered one of the season’s highlight plays - scooping up a fumble and returning it for a touchdown in the win over Rutgers. He started all 12 games and brought a physical, sideline-to-sideline presence that Penn State desperately needed.
Gabe Nwosu: Flipping the Field
In his first year as the starting punter, Gabe Nwosu didn’t just hold his own - he rewrote the record book. With an average of 46.11 yards per punt, Nwosu now holds the best single-season punting average in Penn State history. That’s not just booming kicks; that’s field position mastery.
He landed 14 punts inside the 20, including seven inside the 10, and had 10 punts travel over 50 yards, with a long of 68 yards. Coaches named him to the All-Big Ten third team, while media gave him honorable mention. Nwosu also continued as the team’s kickoff specialist for a third straight year.
Zane Durant: Quietly Consistent in the Trenches
Senior defensive tackle Zane Durant earned honorable mention from both coaches and media after a season that saw him tally 25 tackles, 4.5 for loss, and four sacks, along with an interception and three pass breakups.
Durant’s strength has always been his consistency. Over his career, he’s played in 54 games (starting 40), racking up 89 tackles, 22 for loss, and 10 sacks. He’s been a foundational piece of the defensive front.
A.J. Harris: Steady in the Secondary
After transferring in from Georgia last year, cornerback A.J. Harris followed up his 2024 All-Big Ten third-team season with an honorable mention nod from both voting panels. In 2025, Harris recorded 33 tackles, one for loss, a fumble recovery, and a pass breakup in 11 games.
Across three seasons, Harris has logged 89 tackles, five for loss, one interception, and seven pass breakups in 34 games (26 starts). He’s been a reliable presence on the outside.
Zakee Wheatley: Veteran Leadership at Safety
Zakee Wheatley wrapped up his redshirt senior season with another All-Big Ten honorable mention showing. He finished with 74 tackles, two for loss, a pick, and a fumble recovery over 12 starts. Wheatley has been a mainstay in the secondary, and his career numbers reflect that: 223 tackles, six interceptions, and 12 pass breakups over 58 games.
He’s the kind of player every defense needs - smart, experienced, and always around the ball.
King Mack: Back in Blue and White
After a year at Alabama, King Mack returned to Penn State and stepped right back into the mix. The junior safety earned honorable mention from both coaches and media, finishing the season with 56 tackles, half a sack, a pick, and four pass breakups.
Mack started seven games this year and now has 73 total tackles across his career. His return gave the Nittany Lions some much-needed depth and versatility in the secondary.
Ryan Barker: Nearly Automatic
Redshirt sophomore Ryan Barker was nearly perfect this season, converting 15 of 16 field goals (his only miss was blocked) and 43 of 44 extra points. That earned him honorable mention from both coaches and media.
Barker’s consistency has been a strength - he’s now made 30 of 34 field goals (88.2%) and 91 of 93 extra points (97.8%) in his career. His long this season was 49 yards, and he continues to be a steady hand in the kicking game.
Nick Singleton: Still Dangerous on Returns
While his role in the offense may have fluctuated, Nick Singleton continued to make an impact on special teams. The junior running back averaged 20.7 yards on seven kick returns, earning honorable mention as a return specialist for the third straight year.
Singleton has been a threat in the return game since his freshman season, when he earned second-team All-Big Ten honors. He’s averaged 21.5 yards per return in his career, including one touchdown.
Audavion Collins: Breakout Year at Corner
Audavion Collins stepped into a starting role this year and didn’t let go. The redshirt junior earned honorable mention from the media after posting 45 tackles, 2.5 for loss, a fumble recovery, and two pass breakups in 12 starts.
Collins transferred from Mississippi State and has steadily worked his way up the depth chart. Now, with 74 tackles and five pass defenses over 33 games, he’s become a key piece of the secondary.
Tyler Duzansky: Mr. Reliable at Long Snapper
Long snapper Tyler Duzansky was again recognized by the media with honorable mention honors. The redshirt senior has now started 41 consecutive games, and his consistency has made him a finalist for the Patrick Mannelly Award, given to the nation’s top long snapper.
Duzansky was previously named to the All-Big Ten third team last year and continues to be one of the most dependable specialists in the conference.
What’s Next for Penn State?
The Nittany Lions finished the regular season at 6-6 and await their bowl destination, which will be revealed on Sunday. Meanwhile, the coaching search continues as the program looks to chart its next chapter.
But if there’s one thing this All-Big Ten list shows, it’s that the foundation is still there. The talent is real. And with the right leadership, Penn State has plenty to build on heading into 2026.