Who could start on defense for Penn State in Matt Campbell’s first season? Here’s a look

Penn State’s roster is almost set, with late transfer portal additions being the only thing between new head coach Matt Campbell and a completed roster. Campbell has brought in plenty of new talent, largely from Iowa State where he previously coached, and should have a competitive team on both sides of the ball this year.

And it’s never too early to project what the Nittany Lions could look like this season, with so much turnover on offense and defense. After projecting the offense earlier, let’s take a look at the projected defensive depth chart for Penn State in 2026.

Defensive end

Starters: Alexander McPherson, Max Granville

Backups: Ike Ezeogu, Yvan Kemajou

Depth: Alijah Carnell, Jackson Ford, Mason Robinson, Dayshaun Burnett

This was a relatively deep position in 2025, but the departure of Chaz Coleman for the portal (and ultimately Tennessee) leaves the group without an elite pass rusher. McPherson and Granville are good at getting after the quarterback and Kemajou has the upside to be an All-Big Ten player, but the Nittany Lions will need some growth from their pass rushers this year. There’s also some flexibility in how these players will be used, as it wouldn’t be a surprise if some are stand-up edge rushers and some are utilized closer to the ball to be more impactful against the run. Ezeogu falls into that camp and Carnell could as well.

Defensive tackle

Starters: Keanu Williams, Dallas Vakalahi

Backups: Armstrong Nnodim, Siale Taupaki

Depth: De’Andre Cook, Liam Andrews, Ty Blanding

Campbell turned over almost the entire defensive tackle group, with the team’s depth pieces representing the only returning Nittany Lions. Williams is almost assuredly going to start after he was a starter at UCLA, while Vakalahi is likely to do the same after joining from Utah. Nnodim should be able to push for a spot, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he finds his way into the starting lineup at some point next season. The real question is how will the depth players adjust to a new role that will likely involve holding up more in the running game and eating up blocks in the passing game to create more space for the defense’s edge rushers.

Linebacker

Starters: Tony Rojas, Caleb Bacon

Backups: Kooper Ebel, Cael Brezina

Depth: Alex Tatsch, Lavar Arrington II, Cam Smith, Chris Fileppo

Rojas’ return will be big for this group because it would’ve lacked athleticism otherwise. Bacon is a former walk-on at Iowa State who turned himself into one of the better linebackers in the Big 12, but he isn’t great at playing in space — although he is good in zone coverage thanks to his size and football IQ. Ebel and Brezina could find themselves on the field more than most backups as the program rotates players and occasionally puts the linebackers on the edge as pass rushers. Tatsch would’ve been a backup but an injury at the end of the 2025 season will likely keep him out for an extended period. Arrington is a good candidate to eventually move to the edge, while Smith is in need of added strength and Fileppo will be adjusting to linebacker after playing safety at West Virginia.

Cornerback

Starters: Audavion Collins, Daryus Dixson, Zion Tracy

Backup: Jahmir Joseph

Depth: Joshua Johnson, Xxavier Thomas, Tyrell Chatman, Josiah Zayas

Penn State is returning four key players from the 2025 team at corner and those will be the four at the top of the depth chart for 2026. Dixson has the makings of a shutdown corner at this level and could be the best defensive player on the roster by the end of the year, while Collins and Tracy are experienced players who should start, with Tracy in the nickel. If any player gets unseated, it will likely be by Joseph, who should rotate in plenty and could be the first player to jump into the starting lineup if an injury occurs. The rest of the room is mostly dart throws, with Jeremiah Cooper likely being the fifth corner. Cooper, who should start at safety, is a versatile player and would allow the Nittany Lions to get their best five on the field by putting a different player at safety in his stead rather than playing an unproven corner.

Safety

Starters: Marcus Neal Jr., Jeremiah Cooper

Backups: Jamison Patton, Vaboue Toure

Depth: Omarion Davis, Christian Askew, Bryson Williams, Ibn McDaniels

The top three players on the depth chart all come from Iowa State, with Patton as the top backup behind Neal and Cooper. In the aforementioned scenario where Cooper slides to corner, it’s Patton who will likely play safety in his place. All three are starter-quality players and should help the defensive backfield be one of the best position groups on the team. Neal is the best of the bunch, and could be an All-Big Ten player this season. But beyond those players, there are questions about how good the team’s depth players are. Toure is best suited in a more limited role after struggling in 2025, while Davis and McDaniels are coming in from Boston College and Syracuse. Davis is more ready to play now on defense, and could even be a backup this season. Askew and Williams are freshmen who should be in line to redshirt this season.

Jon Sauber

Centre Daily Times

(814) 231-6461

Jon Sauber covers Penn State football and men’s basketball for the Centre Daily Times. He earned his B.A. in digital and print journalism from Penn State and his M.A. in sports journalism from IUPUI. His previous stops include jobs at The Indianapolis Star, the NCAA, and Rivals.