Penn State linebacker Tony Rojas could be on the cusp of superstardom in 2026, after returning to Happy Valley. (Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
With the transfer portal (mostly) behind us, the focus of the offseason can shift to the roster that new Penn State Football head coach Matt Campbell has assembled for 2026.
While the offensive side of the football was relatively easy to project at this point, with a good amount of Iowa State starters from 2025 following Campbell to Happy Valley, the defensive side of the football is more of a mixed bag between retention, former Cyclones, and other transfer portal players.
Here is a way-too-early look at a potential defensive starting lineup for Penn State for 2026.
“Ames-to-State College” Hybrid: Penn State Football Defensive Outlook
The Edge: The Youth Movement (Granville & Kemajou)
Max Granville
Rising redshirt sophomore Max Granville was supposed to be a breakout player for Penn State in 2025.
However, after an offseason injury cost him the 2025 season, Granville will have that change this season instead. The 6-foot-3, 248-pound defender from Texas flashed potential during his true freshman season in 2024 before rehabbing all of last season.
Yvan Kemajou
While the focus of the media buzz was on fellow true freshman Chaz Coleman, Yvan Kemajou quietly had a better season overall.
Kemajou appeared in 11 games for the Nittany Lions during his first college season, recording 13 tackles, five tackles for a loss, and 1.5 sacks. With Coleman, Dani Dennis-Sutton, and Zuriah Fisher no longer on the roster, Kemajou will look to slot into a much larger role in year two.
Defensive Tackle: The Portal Reinforcements
Keanu Williams, Dallas Vakalahi
Defensive tackle will be one of the more intriguing position battles for spring and fall camps.
Penn State lost a wealth of talent at the position to the NFL draft and the transfer portal, but brought in six defensive tackles in the transfer portal window.
At this point, I will project sixth year senior Keanu Williams from UCLA and Utah transfer Dallas Vakalahi to start with a rotation of quite a few of the transfer pickups early in the season.
Williams has played in 37 total games over five seasons with Oregon and UCLA. In those five seasons, Williams has recorded 59 tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, and 1.5 sacks.
Vakalahi played in 18 games over two seasons with the Utes, recording 27 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, and two sacks.
“Ames Connection” Penn State’s Revamped Safety & Linebacker Rooms
Linebacker: Tony Rojas, Caleb Bacon, Kooper Ebel
Tony Rojas was one of the biggest retention wins for Matt Campbell to keep out of the transfer portal for the Nittany Lions.
Rojas suffered a season ending injury last September, but showed he can be both a leader on and off the field for Penn State’s defense. Once he is healthy, Rojas will take back over his starting spot in 2026.
Iowa State’s Caleb Bacon ranked as one of the top linebackers available in the transfer portal this offseason.
The fifth year senior has recorded 131 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, six sacks, and two forced fumbles in four seasons with Iowa State.
Kooper Ebel tied for the Iowa State team lead in tackles last season, recording 77 total tackles, eight tackles for a loss, and a sack in 2025. Like Bacon, Ebel followed Campbell to Penn State to play his final season of eligibility in 2026.
Safety: Jeremiah Cooper, Marcus Neal Jr.
Marcus Neal Jr. was a standout for Iowa State in his true sophomore season after being thrust into a large role due to injuries.
Neal Jr. tied for the lead in tackles for the Cyclones with 77 last season and also recorded 11 tackles for a loss, two interceptions, one sack, and a forced fumble. Neal Jr. should slot into one of the open starting safety positions this spring after following Campbell to Penn State as one of the top safeties in the transfer portal.
Jeremiah Cooper moved from safety to cornerback for the Cyclones in 2025 before sustaining a season ending injury after only four games last season.
Cooper, however, played 34 games at safety for the Cyclones in the three seasons before that, and should slide back to safety for the Nittany Lions in 2026.
With Penn State losing Zakee Wheatley to the NFL draft and King Mack, Dejuan Lane, and Antoine Belgrave-Shorter to the transfer portal, Penn State could use an experienced veteran to step into the starting lineup next to Marcus Neal Jr. for the 2026 season.
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The Terry Smith Factor: Elite Cornerback Retention
Cornerback: Daryus Dixson, Audavion Collins, Zion Tracy
Penn State lost a few quality cornerbacks this offseason, as Elliot Washington and AJ Harris opted to enter the transfer portal.
However, thanks to Penn State’s retention of Terry Smith, the Nittany Lions are still loaded at the position heading into 2026.
Former Mississippi State transfer Audavion Collins continues to excel with every increase in playing time that he’s gotten through his career. The rising senior recorded 47 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, one sack, and a fumble recovery last season.
Daryus Dixson was a standout freshman for the Nittany Lions from California and another massive retention win for Matt Campbell. Dixson recorded 24 tackles, two tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, a sack, and a fumble recovery during his true freshman season, playing in all 13 games for the Nittany Lions. Heading into year two, Dixson’s role should be even larger.
Zion Tracy should fill his nickel cornerback slot again in 2026 for the Nittany Lions. The rising senior recorded 32 tackles, five tackles for a loss, one sack, and a forced fumble in 11 games in 2025.
This lineup, especially on the defensive line, could change drastically before Penn State kicks off the 2026 season.
There are quite a few position battles at defensive end, defensive tackle, linebacker, and safety that could be fascinating to watch through spring and fall camp and potentially through non-conference play until the coaching staff sorts out the lineup.
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