While there have been some notable absences, particularly star wide receiver Koby Howard, who has been sidelined since Week 3, Penn State has largely been healthy as the Nittany Lions have navigated their way to 5-4 and 2-4 in Big Ten play with back-to-back wins in Weeks 9 and 10.
However, heading into a Week 11 matchup with 5-4 (3-3) Minnesota, head coach Matt Campbell’s team had a few new faces show up on the availability report as attrition continues to hit his defense. The most notable additions to the Friday report were sophomore cornerback Jahmir Joseph and senior defensive end Caleb Bacon.
Let’s dig into their status along with left tackle Malachi Goodman and safety Jeremiah Cooper, whose statuses were both in doubt on Friday.
CB Jahmir Joseph: OUT
Joseph hasn’t missed time this season and was not on the Wednesday availability report. However, he popped up listed as questionable on Friday, and has now been ruled out.
Joseph is an important member of a deep cornerback rotation for defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn. With as much man coverage as Lynn wants to play, he likes to keep that group fresh, going as many as four or five deep on the outside.
Potential Replacement: Ibn McDaniels - The good news is that Syracuse transfer Ibn McDaniels has been one of the most promising developmental stories for Campbell and his staff this season. McDaniels had an interception in the second half a week ago against Washington and will be available to spell Audavion Collins and Daryus Dixson, who lead the No. 1 passing defense in the Big Ten.
DE Caleb Bacon: OUT
Bacon was also not listed on the Wednesday report and also appeared as questionable on Friday. In both cases, it points to the possibility of a midweek practice injury, which is not good news for a Nittany Lions defense that has struggled to get pressure on opposing QBs. This week, Lynn even spoke about how critical it will be to move Minnesota QB Drake Lindsey off his spot.
Potential Replacement: Jackson Ford - Alexander McPherson and Yvan Kemajou will likely start at the edge spots with Ikenna Ezeogu, who has inside-out versatility, also seeing significant snaps. However, rather than shrink the rotation, Ford, a four-star true freshman who has seen limited action since the Week 8 bye, could suddenly be EDGE4 for Lynn.
S Jeremiah Cooper: Game-time decision
Cooper has battled injury all season, though he’s mostly been able to take the field. After entering the year banged up and showing it early on, Penn State moved Zion Tracy back to safety, and he’s largely handled that role next to Jamison Patton. Marcus Neal Jr., who also started the year at safety and also struggled, though unrelated to health, has moved to linebacker, so the Nittany Lions are low on options along the back end if Cooper cannot go.
Potential replacement: Vaboue Toure - If Cooper cannot go, and Penn State wants to spell Tracy and Patton, that responsibility will likely fall to Vaboue Toure, who played nine snaps at safety against Purdue in Week 9 and has played 77 snaps in five games this year.
LT Malachi Goodman: Game-time decision
Penn State’s offensive line struggled early in the year, and Goodman, a 2025 five-star, was one of the biggest culprits. However, as center Brock Riker has gotten healthier and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser shifted to a gap-scheme identity in the run game, they have found their groove. Now, they could be without their left tackle, who also missed time in Week 10 when he was a game-time decision.
Potential Replacement: Garrett Sexton - Malachi Goodman played the first half and appeared for a few snaps after halftime last week, but Garrett Sexton primarily took over at left tackle. Goodman gutted it out, but was not 100%, and it showed in his performance. Sexton wasn’t perfect in relief, but he fared well.
Penn State’s full game-day availability report:
- Koby Howard, WR: OUT
- Max Granville, DE: OUT
- Alex Tatsch, LB: OUT
- Tyler Armstread, CB: OUT
- Alijah Carnell, DT: OUT
- Jahmir Joseph, CB: OUT
- Caleb Bacon, DE: OUT
- Jeremiah Cooper, S: Game-time decision
- Malachi Goodman, LT: Game-time decision
Minnesota’s full game-day availability report:
- Garrison Monroe, DB: OUT
- Ryan Estrada, RB: OUT
- Mason Carrier, LB: OUT
- Jaylin Hicks, DL: OUT
- Brett Carroll, OL: OUTAshton Beers, OL: OUT
- Hayden Moore, WR: OUT
- Riley Sunram, DL: OUT
- Theorin Randle, DL: OUT
- John Nestor, DB: Game-time decision
Between Theorin Randle, Jaylin Hicks, and Riley Sunram, Minnesota is missing three interior defensive linemen who played 64 defensive snaps against UCLA in Week 10. Their absences could be a boon to Penn State’s run game, which has been on a roll since the Week 8 bye.
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