Greg McElroy identifies Penn State’s MVPs entering 2023 season

Despite ranking seventh in the preseason AP Poll, Penn State football is still the third favorite in the Big Ten this year. However, ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy has one player on offense and one position group on defense he thinks could be the key to PSU finally breaking past those expectations to grab the conference crown and potentially make the CFP.

On his YouTube show, Always College Football, McElroy broke down a breakout player and team MVP for various top programs ahead of the upcoming season. While he cheated the rules a bit on picking one particular MVP, McElroy did give Nittany Lions fans some names to look out for as star players on each side of the ball this season.

So check out his team MVP and breakout star for Penn State in 2023.

Greg McElroy picks MVP for Penn State in 2023

“The goal is to get to the College Football Playoff, and I think they can get there. I really believe that they can get there. But if they’re going to get there the most important players on their team are their defensive ends. Look, (Adisa) Isaac, Chop Robinson, Dani Dennis-Sutton, like this is the trio of players that have to play beyond elite in order for Penn State to become the team that they want to become.

“Now we’re talking about crazy firepower. I mean, Chop Robinson, one of the most efficient players, one of the most effective and disruptive players. We already talked about Isaac. I mean, Dennis-Sutton, who feels like he’s coming into his own a little bit too now in his second year. And we’re talking about guys that could totally take over the game.”

McElroy thinks this group could give Ohio State some trouble if they haven’t shored up their offensive line issues.

“Remember where Ohio State is vulnerable right now? Their offensive line is a bit of a question mark and their tackles right now are a bit of a question mark. Well, if those three guys go off in that game, their likelihood of potentially winning the game increases drastically.

“So the MVP, some might say it’s the running backs, some might say it’s the quarterback, some might say it’s the wide receivers. I personally am going with the defensive end, because if that group’s as elite as they can possibly be, they really have a chance to do some special things there in the Big Ten.”

McElroy picks out Penn State’s breakout player for 2023

“Let’s go to the breakout star. This is a cop-out, but how can you not choose Drew Allar? I mean, there are a bunch of options as far as breakout candidates are concerned for Penn State. But I’m going to Allar. I know he’s in the midst of a quarterback competition, if you will, but let’s be real: he’s the starter.”

Sure, replacing a longtime starter will be tough, but Allar is a big believer in Greg McElroy.

“Sean Clifford, I feel like, was very under-appreciated. He made me want to pull my hair out too sometimes as a fan of the position there, were things he did that really frustrated me. But I also acknowledge that he did keep a lot of plays alive and he did do a pretty good job being occasionally mobile, extending plays, buying time and delivering the football. I think Drew Allar has a higher ceiling. I think he’s got better arm talent.”

And McElroy has seen that talent on full display first-hand.

“I’ve seen him throw, stood right behind him when they were playing in the white-out game. We were calling that game and I stood right behind him the entire time in warmups because I just wanted to see the ball come off his hand. It’s a thing of beauty.

“Now, can he showcase it under immense pressure from time to time to complement that rushing attack? That should be really good. He’s the breakout candidate for Penn State.”