Penn State should have strength in numbers at the defensive tackle position in the fall. At the very least.

The Nittany Lions’ top edge rushers, led by Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton, are the headliners and deservedly so. Both players, should they leave PSU after 2024, are projected to be early picks in the NFL Draft next spring.

First-year defensive coordinator Tom Allen is also confident his tackles can more than hold their own.

Four veterans are expected to be at the top of the depth chart at tackle — sixth-year Lions Dvon J-Thomas and Hakeem Beamon, fifth-year Lion Coziah Izzard and third-year tackle Zane Durant.

Durant, who made 11 starts in 2023, produced 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks a year ago.

“Often times you talk about the ends here and rightly so,” Allen said last Saturday. “But I tell you, I’ve been impressed with the inside guys.

“Zane Durant, to me, kind of jumps out. Dvon (J-Thomas) jumps out to me, those two guys. We know what they can do. I’ve coached against them, and I understand. … Even watching Dvon in the (Peach Bowl) and the level he played at, to me, that’s what he needs to be doing every single week.”

Beamon has made 18 starts over the last two seasons. J-Thomas made eight starts in 2023 and racked up five tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry.

Izzard, a key member of the tackle rotation the last three seasons, compiled 10.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks in that time.

The Lions also have Old Dominion transfer Alonzo Ford, a fifth-year player, back after missing last season with an undisclosed injury.

“Coziah Izzard is another one that’s tremendously talented,” Allen said. “Big, physical guy. Hakeem Beamon is another one that can really do a lot of different things. I could go on. That’s a deep, deep group.

“I think the bottom line is, you can’t have enough big, physical guys that can have good lateral movement, as well. We’re not a team that just sits there. We’ll be very aggressive and attacking in our style.”

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