Could Dejuan Lane Become Penn State’s Unstoppable Defensive Force in 2025?

As the 2025 college football season looms large, there’s a palpable buzz around Penn State that’s hard to ignore. I can’t help but feel a mix of anticipation and curiosity about how the roster shapes up under James Franklin’s watchful eye. This year, the focus swings to players who’ve quietly carved their paths—none more intriguing than safety Dejuan Lane, whose freshman year showed flashes of something special. With key defenders like Kevin Winston Jr. and Jaylen Reed now chasing NFL dreams, a genuine opportunity has opened up for Lane to step into the spotlight. His journey from a prized Baltimore recruit to a potential defensive cornerstone in Happy Valley is one worth tracking closely. Over the coming weeks, we’ll dig deep into each athlete’s story, rating, and role, peeling back the layers on what to expect this fall—trust me, it’s going to be a wild ride. LEARN MORE

Lane was considered one of the top recruits out of Baltimore in his class, an area Penn State has recruited well since James Franklin’s arrival. He held offers from other top programs like Michigan, Georgia, Notre Dame and Oklahoma, but only took one official visit – to Happy Valley.Class of 2024: Consensus 4-star recruit, No. 31 safety per 247Sports

Preseason Player Profile

It didn’t take long for safety Dejuan Lane to get acclimated, as he appeared in all 16 games during his true freshman campaign. With Kevin Winston Jr. and Jaylen Reed departing for the NFL, it opens the door for Lane to take over a starting role in 2025 as Penn State eyes a title run.

Class in 2025: Sophomore

Going into the 2025 football season, Nittany Lions Wire will examine each player listed on the Penn State roster. Over the preseason, each profile will cover the player’s background, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for James Franklin this season.Weight: 207 lb

Recruiting Rankings

Hometown: Jessup, Maryland

Height: 6-2

Depth Chart Overview

With two starters out of the picture, Lane has a clear path to a starting role alongside veteran Zakee Wheatley, though he’ll have to beat out players like Kolin Dinkins and Vaboue Toure, who won’t make things easy. Still, Lane should be viewed as a favorite to start come fall.