Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1544053
3 2 A P R I L 2 0 2 6 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M P enn State will have an entirely new defense under D'Anton Lynn in 2026. Lynn's coaching style makes it difficult to project what to expect from year to year; he's deployed three different schemes in his three seasons as a coordi- nator at the college level. Adding to the uncertainty, Penn State's personnel will be largely new. Of the 11 defensive players who started seven or more games last year, only two — corner- backs Zion Tracy and Audavion Collins — are back in 2026. What follows is a look at the players who are working this spring to implement Lynn's vision for the Nittany Lions. Defensive Tackle 1-TECHNIQUE Keanu Williams R-Sr. 6-5 329 Armstrong Nnodim R-So. 6-2 319 or Alijah Carnell R-So. 6-5 296 Dallas Vakalahi Jr. 6-2 337 De'Andre Cook R-So. 6-4 300 SCOUTING REPORT Keanu Williams: Williams is a sixth- year defender who started out at Oregon before transferring to UCLA. He's a strong run defender and a pure nose tackle in SPRING OVERVIEW // DEFENSE Plenty of uncertainty amid PSU's schematic, personnel overhaul T H O M A S F R A N K CA R R | T F R A N K . C A R R @ O N 3 . C O M Defensive end Yvan Kemajou saw action in 11 games as a true freshman and made his first career start in Penn State's victory over Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl. PHOTO BY FRANK HYATT