Three Reasons For Optimism: Defense

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1. The Secondary

There are a lot of new faces, but the talent level remains high for the defensive backfield. Daryus Dixson figures to jump into a starting spot at cornerback after playing in all 13 games in 2025. Audavion Collins and Zion Tracy should compete for the other starting spot. It would not surprise me to see them split snaps, and Tracy has experience as a nickel corner if Penn State chooses to run 4-2-5 schemes. The depth is a bit of a question mark, but Terry Smith has plenty of talent to work with.

Two Iowa State transfers- Marcus Neal and Jeremiah Cooper- will fill the void at safety left behind by Zakee Wheatley and King Mack. Neal has received significant NFL Draft attention for 2027 and has All-Big Ten potential after a breakout 2025 season. Cooper is a solid playmaker against the pass, though he is coming off an injury.

With no Ohio State, Oregon, or Indiana on the schedule, Penn State does not face many overwhelming passing offenses this year. USC and Washington should be the toughest tests for the secondary, and one of them is at Beaver Stadium.

2. (Healthy) Tony Rojas

Losing Tony Rojas to injury was not the deciding factor in Penn State’s 2025 meltdown, but his absence was felt immediately. Rojas tore his ACL after the Oregon game, and the Nittany Lions immediately gave up 42 points to UCLA the following game. He is a dynamic playmaker against the run and pass and the unquestioned leader of a rebuilt Penn State linebacker corps. There are a lot of questions around Penn State’s front seven, so Rojas’ health will be vital to the success of this defense. If he returns to form, the Nittany Lions should have one of the top linebackers in the conference.

3. D’Anton Lynn

Penn State is on its fifth defensive coordinator in the last six seasons, but D’Anton Lynn’s track record speaks for itself. He inherited a UCLA defense that finished No. 87 in total defense in 2022 and elevated them to No. 10 in 2023. When Lincoln Riley poached him away to coach the defense at USC, he took a Trojans defense that was a complete disaster when he arrived and made them serviceable immediately. Hiring Lynn appears to be a good fit for 2026 Penn State. With new players at all three levels of the defense and roughly half of last season’s production gone, the Nittany Lions need someone who can provide results on defense right away. The schedule is favorable and there are enough veteran players on the roster to make the transition smooth for Lynn.

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