Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1545675
A U G U S T 2 0 2 6 6 7 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / D E F E N S I V E L I N E M E N / / / / / / / CALEB BREWER R-So. | 6-4 | 295 • Adapted to the defensive line this spring after spending his first two years at Penn State on the offensive front. • Was a consensus three-star prospect in the 2024 recruiting cycle coming out of Wyomissing (Pa.) High. DE'ANDRE COOK R-So. | 6-4 | 298 • Played in three games as a redshirt freshman but did not record a counting statistic. • Played in one game as a true freshman, seeing action in the Lions' regular- season finale against Maryland. Defensive End LAVAR ARRINGTON II So. | 6-3 | 220 • Was moved from linebacker to defen- sive end prior to the start of spring practice. • Logged 41 snaps in seven games during his true freshman season but did not compile any counting stats. DAYSHAUN BURNETT R-Fr. | 6-3 | 226 • Didn't see game action as a true fresh- man, preserving his freshman eligibility in 2026. • Totaled 75 tackles, including 11.5 sacks, as a senior at Imani Christian in Pittsburgh. MAX GRANVILLE R-So. | 6-3 | 252 • Missed the 2025 season after suffer- ing an injury while home in Texas on semester break. • Was originally part of PSU's 2025 re- cruiting class before reclassifying and joining the team ahead of the 2024 season. • Saw action in two regular-season games and all three postseason con- tests as a true freshman, totaling 1 tackle. YVAN KEMAJOU So. | 6-3 | 252 • Played in 11 games as a true freshman and made his first career start in the Pinstripe Bowl versus Clemson. • Finished his freshman season with 13 tackles, including 5 for loss and 1.5 sacks. MASON ROBINSON R-Jr. | 6-3 | 255 • Has yet to see game action heading into his fourth year with the Nittany Lions. • Was a two-year team captain and two- time team MVP at McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Md. NEWCOMERS Defensive Tackle ALIJAH CARNELL R-So. | 6-5 | 299 • Saw action in 15 games in two seasons at Iowa State, totaling 8 tackles before transferring to Penn State. • Was a three-star prospect at Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas, one of the best high school programs in the coun- try. ARMSTRONG NNODIM R-So. | 6-2 | 310 • Played 243 snaps in 12 games at Okla- homa State as a redshirt freshman, finishing with 11 tackles, including 2 for loss and a sack. • Was a consensus three-star recruit as a senior at John Horn High in Mesquite, Texas. SIALE TAUPAKI R-Sr.+ | 6-2 | 326 • Started out as an offensive lineman at UCLA before switching sides in 2024. • Had 15 tackles, including 2 for loss and a sack, in 12 games last season. DALLAS VAKALAHI Jr. | 6-2 | 326 • Transferred to Penn State after playing in 18 games with five starts in two sea- sons at Utah. • Totaled 9 tackles in 220 snaps during his sophomore season with the Utes. KEANU WILLIAMS R-Sr. | 6-5 | 317 • Followed defensive line coach Ikaika Malloe from UCLA to Penn State. • Missed nearly all of the 2024 season with an injury but returned to action last fall and totaled 39 tackles. Defensive End IKENNA EZEOGU R-Sr. | 6-5 | 273 • Started all 12 games and played 566 snaps for Iowa State last fall, totaling 25 tackles, including 3 for loss and a sack. • Played in 14 games with one start as a redshirt sophomore in 2024, finishing with 19 tackles. JACKSON FORD Fr. | 6-5 | 264 • Was one of only two prospects to sign with Penn State during the early period in December. • Totaled 6 tackles for loss and 3 sacks as a senior at Malvern (Pa.) Prep. ALEXANDER MCPHERSON So. | 6-6 | 254 • Played in 10 games as a true freshman at Colorado last fall, finishing with 15 tackles. • Was a three-star prospect coming out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., in 2025. ELIJAH REEDER Fr. | 6-6 | 210 • Finished as the No. 26 edge rusher and No. 4 New Jersey prospect in the 2026 class, per the Rivals Industry Ranking. • Totaled 50 tackles as a senior at Central Regional High, including 19 for loss and 8 sacks. Defensive tackle Ty Blanding is expected to play a big- ger role this fall after finishing his redshirt sophomore season with 9 tackles, including 2 for loss. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS