Penn State All 105: Ty Blanding a Young DT in a Veteran Room

Ty Blanding is one of the younger players anywhere on the Penn State football team.

He’s entering his second season, and like most first-year players, he didn’t get much playing time in Year I.

In what could be looked at as a blessing and a curse for Blanding, he’s coming into 2024 in an experienced room.

Zane Durant is a class year older than Blanding and proved himself as a starter last season.

Penn State’s other started in its four-man front will likely be one of Hakeem Beamon or D’von Ellies, who are each entering their sixth seasons.

This won’t make it easy for Blanding to get playing time in Year II, but what he learns from these older players could be pivotal in shaping his future. Blanding’s the latest subject in All 105, a Nittany Sports Now series profiling each Penn State player.

Height: 6-foot-1

Weight: 286 pounds

Hometown: Bronx, NY

Before Penn State: Blanding chose Penn State over Michigan, Oregon, Syracuse and West Virginia, among others. He was a four-year starter for Christ The King High School, where he was a two-year captain. During his senior campaign, he collected 46 tackles, six tackles for loss, five sacks and three forced fumbles.

Last year: Blanding redshirted his freshman season, appearing in one game.

Where he stands: Blanding looks good physically, weighing in 10 pounds heavier than he did at the beginning of last season.

A quote by Blanding: ”I think that I can play both (end or tackle) depending on the situation,  but mainly I will be a 3-tech.” — Blanding to Nittany Sports Now not long after his commitment in June 2022.

A quote about Blanding: 

“The guy that nobody’s talking about, and I watch his tape, I think he’s really good, is Ty Blanding. Watch the guy play linebacker; he is twitchy, quick. You watch him play defensive end; he’s twitchy and quick. Watch him play at defensive tackle, and he’s making plays, and he’s explosive. 

I think sometimes New York is under-recruited. People view it as a basketball state, but there’s been a bunch of really good players to come out of that state. 

He’s a guy, watch his tape; I’m like, I don’t understand why more people are not talking about this guy. I think his tape is really, really good. He’s an awesome kid. Love the family. Love everything about him.

He’s a skinny 260 pounds right now. I think he’s going to end up being a big, powerful, athletic kid. We’re excited about him on our roster.” — James Franklin on Blanding at his 2022 Signing Day presser.

More All 105s

LB Winston Yates

LB Beckham Dee

WR Feyisayo Oluleye

DE Zuriah Fisher

LS Blaise Sokach—Minnick

RB Tyler Holzworth 

DE Dani Dennis-Sutton

S Kolin Dinkins 

WR Logan Cunningham

LB Kari Jackson

RB Amiel Davis

S Karson Kiesewetter

DT Zane Durant

RB Cameron Wallace

S Lamont Payne

RB Quinton Martin 

RB Corey Smith

LB Ta’Mere Robinson 

CB Antoine Belgrave-Shorter

S Vaboue Toure

DE Mylachi Williams 

QB Jack Lambert

WR Josiah Brown

DE Jameial Lyons

TE Joey Schlaffer

QB Ethan Grunkemeyer

CB Elliot Washington

TE Khalil Dinkins

DE Amin Vanover 

LB Tyrece Mills

QB Jaxon Smolik

S DaKarri Nelson

LB Tony Rojas

RB Kaytron Allen

CB Jon Mitchell

WR Anthony Ivey

DE Abdul Carter

RB Nicholas Singleton

QB Beau Pribula 

WR Tyler Johnson

CB Zion Tracy

WR Kaden Saunders

WR Trey Wallace 

S Zakee Wheatley

CB Cam Miller

WR Omari Evans

CB A.J. Harris

CB Jalen Kimber

WR Julian Fleming 

S KJ Winston

WR Liam Clifford

S Jaylen Reed 

LB Dom DeLuca