Penn State football's fall camp has brought out the best in every player on the roster it seems like. Head coach Matt Campbell has raved about many players from freshmen to redshirt seniors all across the roster.
While the guaranteed starters, such as quarterback Rocco Becht and tight end Benjamin Brahmer, are striving for consistency in their production ahead of the season, depth pieces are starting to standout to the new head coach.
Freshman cornerback Josiah Zayas is one of them.
"He's made big plays every single practice that he's been here," Campbell told reporters on Thursday about Zayas. "Every single day that guy has showed up and he's got this unique trait that he can do a lot of things. He can play corner, he can play safety, he can play nickel; and he's a guy that's just a really, really talented football player."
Matt Campbell praises cornerback Josiah Zayas on his versatility in the secondary
Zayas was a three-star cornerback in the 2026 class, ranked 414 nationally, No. 44 at his position, and No. 6 out of New Jersey, according to 247Sports Composite rankings. He was initially committed to Iowa State and was one of the incoming freshmen that flipped their commitment to Penn State after Campbell made the jump.
At cornerback, Campbell and defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn have good options in terms of rotation and depth with senior Zion Tracy, redshirt senior Audavion Collins, sophomore Daryis Dixson, and redshirt sophomore Ibn McDaniels. At safety, it's a similar story with Jeremiah Cooper, Marcus Neal Jr. Jamison Patton, and Vaboue Toure.
Since Zayas has a versatile skill set where he could play anywhere in the defensive backfield, Campbell and Lynn can move him around and give him reps across the secondary. He might not be the top cornerback or safety on the roster, but getting those reps in during camp allows the staff to determine what position room needs additional depth and slide him into rotation when needed.
Zayas isn't the only freshman who's stood out in camp. Defensive end Jackson Ford has made a good impression alongside wide receiver Amarion Jackson. Peytzon Falzone has worked on his transition from quarterback to tight end, earning some praise from Campbell in regards to his willingness to make that switch and how well the process has gone so far for him.
With the new NCAA eligibility rules, too, there's no point in "preserving" their talent. None of them will burn a redshirt season or seemingly "waste" a season if they play in a certain number of games without being true impact players. Campbell doesn't have to worry about the long-term effects of these guys playing as true freshmen. If anything, giving them those reps over a season where Penn State has an easy schedule is much more beneficial for them and the team in the long run.
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