Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1535618
J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 5 3 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Blue-White Game, showcasing a few good pass-rush moves. Why he'll redshirt: Burnett needs to learn the position and continue to get bigger. He clearly looked like a freshman physically while surrounded by older teammates in the spring game. Burnett has shown good potential, but he needs more time in the strength program. DA RY U S D I X S O N C B | 6 - 0 | 1 9 3 Penn State came out of nowhere to land Dixson out of Mater Dei in Califor- nia, and there was no drama leading up to his signing in December. He arrived for playoff practices and quietly got down to business. Dixson had a very good perfor- mance in the Blue-White Game. Why he'll play: Cornerback is a tough position to break into at Penn State, but Dixson quickly showed that he belongs in assistant coach Terry Smith's room. He is a skilled player with college-ready size. He also played at one of the nation's top high school programs, and that is something to keep in mind when analyzing his approach. Why he'll redshirt: The knock on Dixson during his re- cruitment was his long speed. Based on what we've heard so far, those concerns weren't un- founded. His other testing num- bers indicate there's room for growth, but even so, there might not be a lot of opportunities to see action on defense this fall given PSU's depth at cornerback. Y VA N K E M A J O U D E | 6 - 3 | 2 4 4 Originally slated as a potential interior player, Kemajou showed up on campus lean and ready to work. He was terrific as a senior at Paint Branch High in Mary- land and was a steady riser at the end of the 2025 cycle. Kemajou arrived for the spring semester and made a good first impres- sion. Why he'll play: With senior Dani Dennis-Sutton bothered by an injury this spring, Ke- majou spent time with the first team in spring ball and in the Blue-White Game. Dennis-Sutton will be back in action soon enough, and the rotation will also feature a handful of players in the 2024 class. Still, Kemajou looks to be among the most likely true freshmen to get the green light in 2025. Why he'll redshirt: While Penn State is very excited about Kemajou's future, there are strides to be made before he can crack the rotation. He's listed at 244 pounds and looks great, but he'll need to pack on more weight if he's going to hold up against Big Ten offensive tackles. A L E X TAT S C H L B | 6 - 2 | 2 3 0 An early commitment in the 2025 class, Tatsch ended up as one of the Nittany Lions' top-rated recruits in the cycle. A shoulder injury and subsequent surgery cut short his senior season, but he was ready to go when he enrolled at Penn State this past winter. He stepped into a linebackers room that is still taking shape ahead of the 2025 season. Why he'll play: The Nittany Li- ons think they've got a good one here. Tatsch rotated through in the box this spring and fared well enough to give rise to speculation that he can contribute in some form soon. He could get some run as a core special-teamer right off the bat. Arrington may have generated more fan buzz, but internally Tatsch is viewed as being closer to seeing the field. Why he'll redshirt: Tatsch did not play in the Blue-White Game due to some bumps and bruises, and that posi- tion isn't ideal for someone with a his- tory of shoulder injuries. He seems to have a bright future, but he could be a four-game guy with the ability to play more special teams in the postseason. B R A Z T H O M A S S | 6 - 2 | 2 0 1 Thomas missed his entire senior sea- son after he suffered an arm injury at Penn State's final summer camp last July. He was ready to go by the time PSU convened for winter workouts and spring ball, and he appeared to be healthy coming out of the team's offseason drills. W h y h e ' l l p l a y : Thomas stands out in the secondary at 6-2, 201, and his athletic numbers back up his size. He saw extensive action in the Blue-White Game and flashed at times in prac- tice. He's big and can run, which is a formula that special teams coaches like when looking at early contributors. Why he'll redshirt: Thomas is certainly ath- letic, but the game will need to slow down for him before he'll find his way onto the field on a regular basis. He needs more time to mature as a prospect. ■ Safety Braz Thomas missed his entire senior season at Pleasantville (N.J.) High with an arm injury but was back in action for the Nittany Lions this spring. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS