Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1544053
A P R I L 2 0 2 6 5 9 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Zay Robinson and 2026 signee Ben Whit- ver, as well as redshirt sophomore Keith Jones Jr. Those moves leave PSU with nine scholarship receivers this season. That's a bit lower than the staff would prefer, but only one of them is out of eligibility after the 2026 campaign. The numbers suggest three or four receivers will be a realistic target for the 2027 class, although the portal could come into play here, too. How redshirt sophomores like Peter Gon- zalez and Jones adapt to the new offense over the next year will be important to watch. Projection: 3 or 4 Tight End Penn State will be fine at tight end this year, but the cupboard looks a little bare in 2027 and beyond. Given the long-term concerns, it wouldn't be surprising to see the staff sign as many as three tight ends in this class. The Nittany Lions are in good shape with four-star prospects Cooper Terwilliger and Colt Lumpris, as well as three-star tight ends Tommy Douglas and Sean Currie. It's un- likely they land three of those four, but others will emerge in time. Add in the fact that offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser likes to use multiple tight ends, and this looks to be one of the more important positions for Penn State in 2027. Projection: 3 Offensive Line Aside from Eagan Boyer and Mi- chael Troutman, Penn State didn't lose a whole lot on the offensive line during the January transfer window. The 2026 roster has 11 linemen with three years or more of eligibility re- maining. Overall, this room looks to be in pretty good shape, with a nice mix of interior linemen and tackles. Because of that, a normal class of four offensive linemen appears to be the goal. Projection: 4 Defensive Tackle Penn State has averaged about 10 defensive tackles on its roster the past few years. The Lions are expected to have eight scholarship interior defensive line- men this season, four of whom have two years or fewer of remaining eligibility. The 2026 season is setting up to be a big one for redshirt sophomores Liam Andrews and De'Andre Cook. If they show they can contribute, it'll be easier for assistant coach Ikaika Malloe and the recruiting staff to pursue younger talent with the available scholarships. If not, we could see just two additions via the fresh- man class and another one or two in the portal. Projection: 2 or 3 Defensive End With sophomore LaVar Arrington II having officially moved from linebacker to defensive end this spring, Penn State has seven scholarship edge rushers with at least three years of eligibility remaining. The Lions will have nine to- tal scholarship edge rushers, the same number they've had the past two years. While this room skews young, position coach Christian Smith looks to be one of the better recruiters on the new staff and will likely be given an opportunity to boost PSU's outlook with some quality additions. Three signees at defensive end should be the goal. Projection: 3 Linebacker Three of Penn State's four incoming Iowa State transfer linebackers have just one year of eligibility remaining. In ad- dition, sophomore Alex Tatsch has a long history of injuries dating back to high school. How Tatsch progresses in the build-up to the coming season could im- pact PSU's approach in the 2027 recruit- ing cycle. When you consider where the Lions stand with four-star prospects Blake Betton, Case Alexander and others, three linebackers are possible for the upcom- ing class. The addition of an experienced player via the portal also wouldn't be surprising. Projection: 3 Defensive Back For the time being, we're going to lump the cornerbacks and safeties together. Penn State will lose four seniors, three of whom should play major roles this coming season. The wild card could be junior safety Mar- cus Neal Jr. If the touted Iowa State transfer performs well and has an opportunity to leave for the NFL, I'd lean toward safety as the spot that PSU will prioritize when it comes to finding reinforcements. Another variable is the develop- ment of the younger players further down the depth chart. At corner- back, Penn State feels good about redshirt freshman Jahmir Joseph and sophomore Daryus Dixson, but the staff also needs redshirt sophomore Ibn McDaniels to show he's ready to contribute in his first season after transferring from Syracuse. For now, we'll just note that five defensive backs is the goal. Projection: 5 ■ Four-star prospect Case Alexander of Washington (Okla.) High is one of several highly touted linebackers who are giving Penn State serious consideration. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS