Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1542734
RETURNING STARTERS None OTHER RETURNEES Liam Andrews | DT | R-So. Listed at 6-foot-4, 288 pounds, An- drews played in four games as a redshirt freshman, totaling 4 tackles. He was twice named Developmental Squad De- fensive Player of the Week, claiming the honor ahead of PSU's games against Or- egon and Iowa. Ty Blanding | DT | R-Jr. After seeing action in only seven games his first two years on campus, Blanding played in all 13 last fall. The 6-1, 295-pounder finished with 9 tackles, in- cluding 2 for loss. Dayshaun Burnett | DE | R-Fr. A three-star prospect coming out of Imani Christian in Pittsburgh last year, the 6-3, 234-pound Burnett didn't see game action as a true freshman, preserv- ing his freshman eligibility in 2026. De'Andre Cook | DT | R-So. The 6-4, 300-pound Cook has played in four games in his first two seasons at Penn State — one as a true freshman and three last fall. He has yet to record a counting statistic. Max Granville | DE | R-So. Granville had been ticketed for a much bigger role in 2025 after playing in five games (two regular season, three postsea- son) as a true freshman. But his hopes of seeing action in the defensive end rotation were dashed when he suffered an injury while home in Texas on semester break. If he's healthy this fall, the 6-3, 248-pounder should be a major contributor. Yvan Kemajou | DL | So. Kemajou wasted little time mak- ing an impact at Penn State. The 6-3, 252-pounder played in 11 games as a true freshman and made his first career start in the Pinstripe Bowl versus Clemson. He finished with 13 tackles, including 5 for loss and 1.5 sacks, as well as 3 quarter- back hurries and a pass breakup. Mason Robinson | DE | R-Jr. A t h re e - s ta r m e m b e r o f Pe n n State's 2023 recruiting class, the 6-3, 254-pound Robinson has yet to see game action heading into his fourth year in State College. NEWCOMERS Alijah Carnell | DT/DE | R-So. The 6-5, 290-pound Carnell hails from Las Vegas, where he was a three- star prospect at Bishop Gorman, one of the best high school programs in the country. He signed with Iowa State, where he saw action in 15 games in two years, totaling 8 tackles before following Matt Campbell to Penn State. Ike Ezeogu | DT/DE | R-Sr. Ezeogu played defensive end in Iowa State's three-man front but could move inside in the four-man line that PSU will most likely field under new coordina- tor D'Anton Lynn. Standing 6-5, 285 pounds, Ezeogu started all 12 games and played 566 snaps for the Cyclones last fall, totaling 25 tackles, including 3 for loss and a sack. Jackson Ford | DE | Fr. Ford was one of only two prospects to sign with Penn State during the early pe- riod in December. The 6-5, 240-pound edge rusher earned a four-star grade from Rivals' scouts coming out of Mal- vern Prep in Phoenixville, Pa. He totaled 31 tackles, including 6 for loss and 3 sacks, as a senior. Alexander McPherson | DE | So. McPhearson played in 10 games as a true freshman at Colorado last fall, finishing with 15 tackles. The 6-6, 240-pounder was a three-star prospect coming out of IMG Academy in Braden- ton, Fla., in 2025. Armstrong Nnodim | DT | R-So. As a redshirt freshman at Oklahoma State last season, Nnodim played 243 snaps in 12 games, finishing with 11 tack- les, including 2 for loss and a sack. The 6-2, 290-pounder from Mesquite, Texas, played 37 snaps against Iowa State in No- vember, giving Campbell an opportunity 3 6 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 6 2026 LOOK AHEAD DEFENSIVE LINE After reaffirming his plans to remain at Penn State, defensive end Yvan Kemajou is in line to start as a sophomore. He had 5 tackles for loss in his first season with the Lions. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL Lions' Defensive Front Undergoing Schematic, Personnel Revamp