Dvon Ellies' Return Is a Major Win for Penn State's Defense
Before the Peach Bowl, Penn State defensive tackle DVon Ellies hinted at something big forthcoming. Not his return for the 2024 season, which Ellies announced in early January, but at another treat Penn State fans can get behind.
"I've got a barbecue sauce," Ellies said. "It's going to be delicious."
Ellies, Penn State's trench-filling, defense-leading, barbeque-sauce branding impresario, will play one more season with the Nittany Lions, marking a huge win for the defense and new coordinator Tom Allen. Ellies' decision to use his sixth year at Penn State benefits both parties: Ellies could become one of the Big Ten's best run-stopping tackles, and Penn State will get a proven veteran leader for a changing defense.
Ellies likely will be a defensive captain for Penn State next season. He also will hold down a defensive line that loses two starting ends to the NFL and needs a physical presence and significant voice. With Ellies and Zane Durant, who started the last six games together inside, Penn State has the foundation of a defensive interior that Allen can deploy in multiple ways. Ellies blossomed into one of Penn State's most consistent interior players, particularly in the season's second half.
Further, Ellies developed one of Penn State's leading defensive voices, one coach James Franklin and Allen will put to use this offseason.
"Really proud of Dvon and his total development since he's been here," Franklin said late in the season. "Maybe one of the more impressive developments I've seen in my 13 years [as a head coach]. I'm just so proud of him in school, in football, and as a leader. He spoke to the team [after the Indiana game], and what he said was something we talk about a lot.
"The best teams are honest teams. You've got to be willing to have those conversations with each other. To me, it's always at its best when it's player-led, right? When the players hold each other accountable and have real conversations with each other, whether it's at practice, locker room, game days, or Saturday nights. I think it's always best when it's the players."
Before the Peach Bowl, Ellies called the decision process "kind of exhausting," saying it required time and thought. Ultimately, the opportunity to grow in multiple ways as a defensive tackle led Ellies back to Penn State.
"I feel like my game is going to develop," he said before the bowl game. "I've seen growth in myself and in my game from West Virginia to now. I feel like the growth has been tremendous. ... Definitely with my consistency, for sure. At times the last couple of years, I flashed here and there, but this year I've really put it all together as far as every single play being in a winning position, as coach Deion would say."
Defensive line coach Deion Barnes turned Penn State's front, a mix of skills and personalities, into a fused unit last season. Having Ellies back inside girds what he'll attempt to accomplish with the the unit, which should be a defensive strength despite its personnel losses. One reason is that Ellies fully understands, and embraces, Barnes' unit goals.
"A good defensive tackle is somebody who can create havoc," Ellies said earlier this season. "That's it. An individual who creates havoc. With my mix of size [he's 6-1, 302 pounds] and speed [Ellies has run a 4.8 40-yard dash], I feel like that helps me out a lot. You don't see too many super-big defensive linemen who are as agile, and I believe that will help me out a lot."
More Penn State Football
The Penn State Football Year in Review
Former Ohio State receiver Julian Fleming transferring to Penn State
The most telling Penn State stats of the Peach Bowl
What went wrong for Penn State in the Peach Bowl
Peach Bowl breakdown: Ole Miss 38, Penn State 25
Penn State down four starters for the Peach Bowl vs. Ole Miss
How the Ole Miss Rebels, and coach Lane Kiffin, trolled Penn State at the Peach Bowl
Sheetz vs. Wawa: Penn State coach James Franklin pitches both for NIL opportunities
Lane Kiffin agrees with James Franklin about college football's "terrible system"
AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.
