Special 2022 class to have major impact on program

La Salle grad Carter just getting started

The Penn State football team felt the impact of its 2022 recruiting class throughout last season, whether it was Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen, Drew Shelton, Abdul Carter or others.

They all made major contributions to the Nittany Lions’ Rose Bowl victory, 11-2 record and top-10 finish.

“We’ve had guys (freshmen) play in years past, but maybe they were backups,” Penn State coach James Franklin said Tuesday during an interview session. “There just seemed to be a large number in this class who were able to play and take on a primary role and be impactful.

“Whenever that happens, you go into the next season feeling confident because you have a ton of guys coming back who have been able to make plays on a significant stage.”

As many as six members of that highly ranked class will be starters for the Lions when they begin their 2023 season Sept. 2 against West Virginia.

They include Singleton, the former Gov. Mifflin star who rushed for 1,063 yards last year and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year; Allen, who scored 10 touchdowns; Shelton, the Downingtown West grad who started the final five games at left tackle last year; and Carter, who emerged as a starter at linebacker in midseason and was a disruptive force.

Throw in defensive tackle Zane Durant, defensive end Dani-Dennis Sutton and Drew Allar, poised to take over at quarterback, and it’s clear why Penn State has been pegged as a Big Ten title contender in the fall.

He thinks so highly of the current sophomores that he made the entire class available for interviews Tuesday.

“We felt like it was a good class,” Franklin said. “It ended up being as good of a class as we thought or maybe even a little better. A lot of those guys came in with a very mature approach and were willing to do what it took to play and play well.

“Everybody says they want to play as freshmen, but very few people are willing to do the things necessary to get it done.”

Franklin would like to see several members of the 2022 class become team leaders, despite their relatively young age. He hopes they can fill the leadership void left by the departure of Sean Clifford, PJ Mustipher, Ji’Ayir Brown and others.

“It’s a natural process,” said quarterback Beau Pribula, the former Central York star. “The guys who are going to be leaders are going to step up naturally. It’s not something you can force. Guys can sense that. They’re going to look up to guys who are natural leaders. You either have it or you don’t.

“Guys in my class will become leaders on this team if they haven’t already begun to do so.”

Several of his teammates pointed Tuesday to Singleton as being one of the leaders of their class. He capped his sensational freshman season by rushing for 120 yards and two touchdowns in the Rose Bowl win over Utah.

“Nick Singleton’s a huge leader in our class,” Durant said. “He comes in and is consistent every day, willing to work and giving his effort all the time. Even if it’s not going his way, he’s still gonna go hard.”

Singleton sounded like he’s ready to fill a leadership role, even though he’s often unassuming in interviews.

“A lot of leaders left, like Sean, Ji’Ayir and PJ,” he said. “They were great leaders. Everyone has to step up. No, it’s not too early for guys in our class to become leaders. Coach has been preaching that anybody can be a leader no matter what class you’re in, no matter if you’re a sophomore, junior or senior.”

The Class of 2022 was ranked seventh nationally by On3. The 24 members of the class who remain at Penn State could help the Lions finally reach the College Football Playoff in the next two years.

“It’s a really strong class and a really skilled class,” Pribula said. “We have a really mature class as well. A lot of guys have professional mindsets. They’re in the facility really early. They’re taking care of their bodies. They’re stretching and doing things you wouldn’t really expect 18, 19-year-old kids to be doing.”

They have a chance to leave a lasting legacy at Penn State in the next two or three years.

“Coach wants us to do that (become leaders),” Durant said. “We know what we’re doing. We’ve already been thrown into the fire.”