Ranking Penn State's best 25 players ahead of '21 by PFF rating: Nos. 6-10

With the 2021 Penn State football season coming into view, Blue White Illustrated is using Pro Football Focus ratings to rank the 25 best players on Penn State's roster. The rankings are based on last season's PFF ratings, and the rankings only include players who played at least 100 snaps least season on offense or defense — with the exception of specialists. In case you missed it, catch up with Nos. 11-25 in the rankings, here:

Ranking Penn State's best 25 players ahead of '21 by PFF rating: Nos. 21-25

Ranking Penn State's best 25 players ahead of '21 by PFF rating: Nos. 16-20

Ranking Penn State's best 25 players ahead of '21 by PFF rating: Nos. 11-15

PFF Defense Grade: 70.2

Perhaps a surprise inclusion on this list to some, Daequan Hardy narrowly met the 150-snap requirement to make him eligible. Playing exclusively in a reserve role last season, Hardy gave the Nittany Lions some reliable depth. Despite his status as one of Penn State's smaller cornerbacks, he was an excellent tackler as a redshirt freshman, earning an 85.2 grade in that category from PFF. The Penn State cornerback room looks to be a crowded one this summer, following the additions of Johnny Dixon and AJ Lytton, so it will be interesting to see where Hardy fits this season.

PFF Special Teams Grade: 70.4

PFF shows some love to a specialist here in Chris Stoll, with the long snapper earning a 70.4 special teams grade — by far the best among Penn State's specialists. Stoll enters his third season as Penn Sate's long snapper in 2021, providing some valuable experience on the Nittany Lions' special teams units. He was named to Phil Steele's preseason fourth-team All-Big Ten.

PFF Offense Grade: 70.6

One of two Penn State offensive linemen to crack the top-10, Rasheed Walker enters the season as one of college football's best NFL prospects at the tackle position. Walker allowed two sacks and 12 quarterback pressures, according to PFF, over the course of Penn State's nine games last season covering Sean Clifford's blind side, earning him a 67.9 overall grade as a pass blocker and a 71.9 rating in the run game. Walker made only a small jump from his 69.6 overall grade in 2019, and will surely be hoping to take his game to the next level in 2021.

PFF Defense Grade: 72.2

Pro Football Focus has rated Jonathan Sutherland well since he took his first snaps in blue and white, and 2020 was no different. Although he didn't play much on defense, collecting only 152 snaps, he still proved to be valuable cover for the Nittany Lions at the safety position. Predictably, PFF labeled his tackling as his best asset, giving him an 87.2 grade in that department. In coverage, he earned a 71.3 grade. He moves into 2021 battling with Ji'Ayir Brown and others to start alongside Jaquan Brisker at safety.

PFF Defense Grade: 75.5

Just missing out on the top-5 here is defensive tackle Derrick Tangelo, who arrived at Penn State from Duke over the winter and will play his final season of eligibility in Happy Valley. Tangelo is the second-highest rated defensive lineman on this list and also the second-highest rated transfer. He was solid against the run last season, but PFF rated him better as a pass rusher, giving him a 78.6 grade in that area. He figures to be a big boost to an interior defense that must replace Antonio Shelton after his departure for Florida.

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