Losing your top five contributors at any position is a difficult challenge to overcome.
That’s where Penn State’s defensive line stands after Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zane Durant, Zuriah Fisher, Xavier Gilliam and Alonzo Ford Jr. departed this offseason after combining for 2,297 snaps in 2025. With no returning starters, the room has been rebuilt almost entirely through the transfer portal, with a deliberate emphasis on size.
The man tasked with making it work is new position coach Ikaika Malloe, who arrived from UCLA with a strong track record of developing defensive linemen into NFL starters. He spent the spring installing his system, evaluating new faces and figuring out what he has. What he found, by his own account, has been impressive.
The veterans: Siale Taupaki and Keanu Williams
Two players with plenty of experience, Taupaki was originally in the 2019 recruiting class while Williams came from the 2021 cycle. Both defensive tackles spent the last three seasons with Malloe at UCLA, gaining plenty of playing time and experience in the system.
“I think Keanu has been having a pretty good spring, and Siale will get going very shortly,” Malloe said. “We just wanted to be cautious with him. There’s some things we want to take care of, but for him, he will probably be one of our most athletic tackles that we see in a long time.”
Additionally, they have experience with Nittany Lion defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, who held the same role with the Bruins in 2023. Heading into the fall, they’re viewed as favorites to start on the interior, given their veteran prowess and familiarity with the coaches.
In fact, Taupaki and Williams have been able to lead their own meetings with the position group when Malloe is unavailable.
“I think that helps me,” Malloe said. “It really does, because they know my teaching and they know what my expectations are.”
The wildcard: Max Granville
Looking at defensive end, Granville will push for a starting role this fall despite having minimal college playing time and missing all of 2025 with injury. He impressed as a true freshman in 2024, seeing 52 total snaps — including 11 in the Fiesta Bowl against Boise State in place of the injured Abdul Carter.
“I got a chance to watch him in the bowl game,” Malloe said. “And I really think, and I’m trying to be careful with the word, but he has the same potential that Laiatu Latu has and he has so much bend … When people are trying to shove him to the ground, he had the balance to kind of get around the corner, get back up.”
Malloe worked with Latu for three seasons at Washington (2019-2021) and two at UCLA (2022-23) before he was selected with the No. 15 overall pick in the NFL draft — high praise for Granville, who has just one career tackle to his name.
The next step for Granville is to “add tools to his tool belt,” according to Malloe, who doesn’t think Granville has “even reached the tip” of his potential through two college seasons. The edge rusher has been sidelined throughout winter workouts and spring ball, meaning fall camp will be critical for his development and push for starting reps.
Other transfers: Ikenna Ezeogu, Alex McPherson and Armstrong Nnodim
If there’s one transfer who could crack the starting rotation at defensive end, it’s Ezeogu who transferred in from Iowa State this offseason. He saw over 1,000 snaps through four seasons in Ames and earned a starting role last year, totaling 25 tackles and a sack.
“Ike is really, really good,” Malloe said. “Gosh, I don’t even know how to explain it. He has the power, the physique. He has some athleticism to him.”
Malloe admitted Ezeogu — like many others — is still learning the scheme and will need to make strides to be a contributor this fall. But if he grows in that area, the outlook is bright.
“I would venture to guess, if we can get Ike to play the way we want him to play, then you would see him playing inside, outside in space, and we’ll be able to utilize all his versatility,” Malloe said.
Another defensive end transfer with potential to land on the two-deep, McPherson spent last season at Colorado, accumulating 15 tackles and half a sack as a true freshman. While his stats don’t pop off the page, head coach Matt Campbell got eyes on McPherson when Iowa State faced the Buffaloes last season and was impressed enough to target him in the portal.
Malloe said he’s “doing great” and has slowly been working inside after lining up wide for most of his career.
Nnodim is another new addition to the room, arriving this offseason from Oklahoma State, where he totaled 11 tackles last season as a redshirt freshman. Though his production to this point is low and he’s not expected to contend for a starting role, Nnodim could add depth at defensive tackle and has already earned a new nickname throughout the offseason.
“Armstrong is really consistent, they call him ‘the pitbull’ for a reason, he just kind of holds his ground,” Malloe said.
The holdovers: Ty Blanding and Liam Andrews
Blanding, a redshirt junior, and Andrews, a redshirt sophomore, are the only returning defensive tackles from last season. While that would normally give them a leg up over the competition, it’s actually set them back — according to Malloe, they’ve had to “unlearn” the previous system before installing a new one.
“Really excited for them, because of them sticking around, kind of holding down the fort so to speak, and been able to use them to help us,” Malloe said.
Still, Malloe credited both players with making “huge jumps” this offseason and for buying into the system. The coach even praised Blanding for having the best week of anyone on the line heading into the Blue-White Practice on Saturday.
For Andrews, he’s also been getting reps at defensive end, a position with less depth, giving him the opportunity to plug in anywhere on the line should injury arise this season.
