Penn State football's 2026 roster is littered with new talent. While head coach Matt Campbell's transfers have to prove themselves, he did well retaining solid Nittany Lion defensemen and filling the gaps as needed.
Way-too-early Penn State 2026 offensive depth chart projection
Here's our way-too-early 2026 Penn State defensive and special teams depth chart projection:
Defense
Defensive end - Yvan Kemajou, Max Granville
Backups: Ikenna Ezeogu, Jaylen Harvey, Alex McPherson
Kemajou had 13 tackles, five tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and one pass defensed as a freshman in 2025 over 11 contests. Granville's time was cut short in 2025 due to injury, but he was expected to be a standout freshman and make an impact at defensive end. A young combination in Kemajou and Granville with solid rotational guys behind them will keep legs freshman and the edges solid on the field for Penn State.
Bobby Mears (redshirt junior), Aiden Probst (redshirt sophomore), Jordan Mayer (redshirt sophomore), Dayshaun Burnett (redshirt freshman), and Jackson Ford (freshman) are the other defensive ends on the roster. Elijah Reeder (freshman) committed, but has not enrolled.
Defensive tackle - Ty Blanding, Keanu Williams
Backups: Siale Taupaki, Dallas Vakalahi, Alijah Carnell
Blanding had nine tackles and two tackles for loss in 2025, but it's important to remember that he played behind guys like Zane Durant, Alonzo Ford, Anai White, and Xavier Gilliam. As for Williams, he brings tons of on field experience and maturity as he enters his sixth collegiate season. At UCLA in 2025, he had 39 tackles and one pass defensed. Expect Taupaki and Vakalahi, especially, to fight for their roles early in the season. This room really needs to mesh between returners and transfers from all around the country.
Liam Andrews (redshirt sophomore), De'Andre Cook (redshirt sophomore), and Armstrong Nnodim (redshirt sophomore) are the other tackles in the room.
Linebacker - Tony Rojas, Caleb Bacon, Kooper Ebel
Backups: Cael Brezina, Alex Tatsch
Rojas was a missing piece the Nittany Lions didn't have for a majority of the season after his injury. In just four games, he logged 25 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and one pass defensed. In 2024, he had 58 tackles, six tackles for loss, four passes defensed, three interceptions (one for a touchdown), and one sack. He's going to be dominant for the blue and white in 2026. Rojas paired with Bacon and Ebel make Penn State's line as strong as it possibly could be in Campbell's first season. Bacon had 68 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, three passes defensed, and one forced fumble as a redshirt senior in 2025. Ebel had 77 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three passes defensed, one sack, and one forced fumble.
John Klosterman (redshirt senior), Jackson Pryts (senior), LaVar Arrington II (sophomore), and Cam Smith (redshirt freshman) make up the rest of the room. Smith has an opportunity to work his way into the rotation, but needs impressive spring and training camp performances to earn his spot. Freshmen Keian Kaiser and Jake Lukac are committed, but have not enrolled.
Safety - Marcus Neal Jr., Jamison Patton
Backups: Vaboue Toure, Jeremiah Cooper
Neal's production for the Cyclones was impressive, especially given him only being a sophomore. In 2025, he had 77 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, three passes defensed, two interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one sack. Patton, also following Campbell, had 48 tackles, three passes defensed, two interceptions, and one tackle for loss as a junior. This keeps the duo on the field consistent and familiar for Penn State. At safety, especially with a lot of new faces in the room, that's key.
Jashaun Green (redshirt senior), Chris Fileppo (sophomore), Omarion Davis (sophomore), Hunter Sowell (redshirt freshman), Bryson Williams (freshman), Amarion Jackson (freshman), and Christian Askew (freshman) are the other safeties.
Cornerback - Audavion Collins, Daryus Dixson, Zion Tracy
Backups: Ibn McDaniels, Jahmir Joseph
The Nittany Lions returning are crucial at cornerback. Collins had 47 tackles, three passes defensed, 2.5 tackles for loss, one interception, and one fumble recovery in 2025. As a freshman, Dixson proved why his redshirt deserved to be burned. He had 24 tackles, six passes defensed, two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one sack. Tracy had 32 tackles, five tackles for loss, two passes defensed, one forced fumble, and one sack as a junior. That trio only has a chance to grow while getting help from McDaniels and Joseph on the depth chart.
Donte Nastasi (redshirt junior), Joshua Johnson (redshirt freshman), Xxavier Thomas (redshirt freshman), Max Heffner (redshirt freshman), Tyler Armstead (redshirt freshman), Tyrell Chatman (freshman), and Josiah Zayas (freshman) are the other cornerbacks in the room.
Special Teams
Punter - Nathan Tiyce
Backup: Lucas Tenbrock
Kicker - Ryan Barker
Backup: Cristiano Rosa
Matthew Parker (redshirt freshman) is another kicker for the Nittany Lions.
Long snapper: Blaise Sokach-Minnich
Backup: Andrew Dufault