Penn State will feature almost an entirely new group of starters on the defensive side of the ball in 2026 after losing a majority of last year’s team to the NFL draft, graduation or the transfer portal.
Head coach Matt Campbell and Co. have gone to work replenishing the roster this offseason, bringing an influx of talent from Iowa State and elsewhere.
Here’s an early look at the defensive depth chart heading into next season. See the potential offensive depth chart here.
DEFENSIVE ENDS
Starters: Yvan Kemajou, Max Granville
Backups: Jaylen Harvey, Ikenna Ezeogu, Alex McPherson
The Nittany Lions lost Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zuriah Fisher, Chaz Coleman, Mylachi Williams, Daniel Jennings and Cortez Harris from last year’s squad, leaving lots of empty seats in the room.
To help backfill, Kemajou and Granville will likely step into starting roles. Kemajou saw 238 snaps across 11 games last season, while Granville missed the entire season with injury after an impressive freshman year.
Ezeogu totaled 617 snaps with 25 tackles and one sack last season at Iowa State and should be in the mix for a starting spot or a rotational role.
McPherson arrives from Colorado, where he totaled 15 tackles and half a sack last season. He’ll likely rotate in before stepping into a larger role the next season.
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
Starters: Keanu Williams, Ty Blanding
Backups: Siale Taupaki, Dallas Vakalahi, Liam Andrews
Penn State also loses a lot of production on the interior, with Zane Durant, Xavier Gilliam, Alonzo Ford Jr., Owen Wafle, Enai White and Randy Adirika departing. However, defensive line coach Ikaika Malloe has already brought in several transfers to beef up the room.
Williams is entering his sixth season of college football and has experience starting in the Big Ten at UCLA. He also has prior experience playing for Malloe and defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn with the Bruins.
Blanding saw a meaningful role for Penn State last season with 228 total snaps, including nine tackles. With the path to playing time opening up, he should push for a starting role as well.
LINEBACKERS
Starters: Tony Rojas, Caleb Bacon, Cooper Ebel
Backups: Cael Brezina, Alex Tatsch, Cam Smith,
For the last few seasons, the Nittany Lions have run a 4-2-5 defense, while Matt Campbell’s Iowa State squads operated out of a 3-3-5 base and defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn’s USC teams ran a 4-3-4. It’s unclear what Penn State will do in 2026.
The Nittany Lions took a big blow when Amare Campbell, the team’s leading tackler in 2025, decided to enter the transfer portal. Dom DeLuca, Keon Wylie, DaKaari Nelson, Kari Jackson and Anthony Speca also departed this offseason, causing lots of turnover in the room.
However, the Nittany Lions return Tony Rojas, who likely would’ve entered the NFL draft if he wasn’t injured during practice after just four games. Rojas is almost guaranteed to start next season, though the other spots are up for grabs.
Bacon and Ebel were starters last season at Iowa State and will likely retain starting status in Happy Valley. They accounted for a combined 145 tackles and four sacks last season. Brezina is also a former Cyclones who saw a rotational role last year.
Returning Alex Tatsch, who was an impact freshman last season, was a big win on the retention front, and fellow freshman Cam Smith earned praise from the coaching staff despite seeing just one snap all year.
CORNERBACKS
Starters: Audavion Collins, Daryus Dixson, Zion Tracy
Backups:, Jahmir Joseph, Ibn McDaniels
Collins was solid in his first season as a starter, and there’s no reason to believe he won’t retain that role in 2026. With A.J. Harris transferring to Indiana, the door opens for Dixson to step into a full-time starting role after an impressive freshman campaign.
Tracy returns and will likely remain the starting nickel corner, if Penn State employs five defensive backs.
For depth, the Nittany Lions brought in Patton from Iowa State, McDaniels from Syracuse and have Joseph returning.
SAFETIES
Starters: Marcus Neal Jr., Jamison Patton
Backups: Jeremiah Cooper, Vaboue Toure
The safety room took on water this offseason with Zakee Wheatley declaring for the draft and King Mack, Dejuan Lane and Antoine Belgrave-Shorter transferring out.
Neal and Patton transferred in from Iowa State, where they were starters last season. Neal was the team leader with 77 tackles, while Patton had 48 and both had two interceptions — both should step into starting roles.
Cooper is also a former Cyclone, though he rotated in and totaled nine tackles with one pick.
