Penn State football came out hot on Saturday night with an interception from Zakee Wheatley turned into a touchdown from Kaytron Allen to open the game. As the defense forced incompletions on Iowa's second drive of the game and successfully barred the Hawkeyes from entering the end zone in response, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles' unit took a hit.
Defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam was hunched over, kneeling on the field after the third-down stop. The redshirt freshman walked off the field and onto the sidelines under his own power, according to the broadcast and reporters in person. He was still in the medical tent while Iowa kicker Drew Stevens put the first points on the board for his team.
Gilliam played in each game so far in 2025 and recorded nine tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Over the first half of the season, Knowles' defense quickly shallowed and thinned. Even though Gilliam is not considered a key difference maker for the Nittany Lions when compared to veterans on the field alongside him, Penn State needs as many guys as possible. Health is exposing a lot of weaknesses in the defense, which was exploited by UCLA and Northwestern in the two upsets the Nittany Lions' sustained. Losing more players will only worsen that situation.
Penn State DT Xavier Gilliam went down on the last play but walked off on his own power
— Joel Haas (@Joel_Haas1) October 18, 2025
Xavier Gilliam returns to field on next defensive series for Penn State
The Nittany Lions offense was quick to exit the field, going three-and-out. In that time, Gilliam came out of the tent and was ready to take his spot back on the field.
Penn State's defense kept the Hawkeyes from successfully converting on third-and-13. Iowa tried for another field goal, but the kick was wide right. Alongside Gilliam, the blue and white defensive effort was enough in the first quarter to keep Penn State in the lead, 7-3.
Gilliam walking to the sidelines under his own power was indicative of how the rest of his night will go. Regardless of the slightly extended time spent in the tent, Penn State's defense does not need to worry about losing another player mid-game in the midst of a depth issue.
Xavier Gilliam comes up big with blocked field goal attempt at end of first half
A brief injury early in the game did not hold Gilliam back. With Iowa attempting to take the lead with a 66-yard field goal, Gilliam threw his arm up to block the kick. With a successful hand on the ball, Elliott Washington II finished off the play with a recovery and booked it into the end zone to put Penn State back on top.