Penn State 2026 Linebacker Room Preview

This is part of a series of 2026 Penn State football position previews.

Previously: Special Teams, Defensive Line

Early buzz indicates Penn State will return to a 4-3-4 base defense this fall under coordinator D’Anton Lynn. In this scheme, the second level will play a critical role as the connective tissue of the entire defense, requiring sideline-to-sideline speed and instant instincts.

Here’s how the linebacker room is taking shape heading into the fall.

Returner Tony Rojas was pacing for a career year and potential NFL departure before a season-ending injury during practice just four games into 2025, resulting instead in a redshirt campaign last fall. 

The Fairfax, Virginia, native is expected to be the centerpiece of the room entering the fall and should thrive in Lynn’s defense if fully healthy. Penn State’s performance noticeably declined after Rojas went down, underscoring both his value and the lack of proven depth behind him.

His return gives the Nittany Lions a legitimate All-Big Ten candidate and one of the conference’s most athletic linebackers. 

He’ll be joined by transfer Kooper Ebel, a multi-year starter at Iowa State, who appears positioned for a significant role after flashing physicality and reliability throughout the spring. He may not possess Rojas’ athletic ceiling, but he brings valuable experience and a reputation for being in the right place at the right time.

His familiarity with several fellow transfers should help ease the transition and provide stability at a position group that underwent considerable turnover during the offseason. He also fills a void at MIKE linebacker and is expected to don the green dot, handling in-helmet communication.

Caleb Bacon, another veteran addition and former Cyclone, arrives with a story similar to a polarizing former Nittany Lion — Dom DeLuca. Like DeLuca, Bacon began his college career as a walk-on before developing into a power conference starter, and they both earned team captain status in 2025.

Bacon has the frame to play downhill against the run, showing more physicality than DeLuca, while still offering enough movement skills to stay on the field in passing situations. He’ll likely lock down the third starting spot and could become one of the more impactful additions on the roster.

Cael Brezina, another Cyclone implant, didn’t begin last year in a starting role but stepped in following an injury to Will McLaughlin. He played well and gained experience working with Ebel and Bacon, even getting some reps with the green dot.

The junior will push for a starting role but should see plenty of playing time regardless, and headed into 2027, he may be the face of the room.

There’s a significant dropoff in experience after those four, but others with the potential for playing time this fall include sophomore Alex Tatsch, who flashed potential last season, and redshirt freshman Cam Smith, who added 25 pounds this offseason, according to position coach Tyson Veidt.