Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1545675
A U G U S T 2 0 2 6 7 9 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 B A C K S / / / / / / / season with the Nittany Lions, totaling 47 stops, including 2.5 for loss. • Played in all 16 games during the 2024 season, finishing with 26 tackles, includ- ing 5 apiece against Wisconsin and Boise State. • •Transferred to Penn State in 2023 after beginning his career at Mississippi State, where he redshirted as a true freshman. DARYUS DIXSON So. | 6-0 | 184 • Was an impact freshman last year, playing in all 13 games and totaling 24 tackles. • Made his first career start against Michi- gan State in November and also got the nod in the Pinstripe Bowl versus Clem- son. • Had 8 interceptions and 25 pass break- ups in four seasons at Mater Dei in Cali- fornia. JOSHUA JOHNSON R-Fr. | 6-2 | 189 • Played in Penn State's final three games last season and retained his freshman eli- gibility for the 2026 campaign. • Received a three-star grade in the Rivals Industry Ranking and was the nation's No. 83 cornerback and No. 33 player in Ohio. JAHMIR JOSEPH R-Fr. | 6-0 | 190 • Played in four regular-season games last year as well as the Pinstripe Bowl, totaling 7 tackles in his first college season. • Had 4 interceptions and 11 pass deflec- tions as a senior at St. Joseph Regional High in Montvale, N.J. XXAVIER THOMAS R-Fr. | 5-11 | 180 • Was on the field for one game last year, seeing action against Villanova and retain- ing his freshman eligibility in 2026. • Had 6 interceptions as a senior at Pitts- burgh Central Catholic. ZION TRACY Sr. | 5-11 | 184 • Started nine games at the nickel position as a junior, totaling 32 tackles and break- ing up 2 passes in 2025. • Started three games and played in all 16 in 2024, finishing his sophomore season with 35 tackles and 2 interceptions. • •Appeared in all 13 games as a true fresh- man, mostly on special teams. Safety VABOUE TOURE R-So. | 6-1 | 209 • Was the only scholarship safety to stick with Penn State through its coaching transition. • Played in 11 games as a redshirt fresh- man, finishing with 13 tackles in 2025. NEWCOMERS Cornerback TYRELL CHAPMAN Fr. | 6-2 | 196 • Joined Penn State's 2026 recruiting class in January after receiving his release from Iowa State. • Was a three-star prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking, as well as the No. 60 cornerback nationally and No. 3 player in Nebraska, coming out of North Star High. JOSIAH ZAYAS Fr. | 6-2 | 205 • Totaled 67 tackles, including 5 for loss, and 9 interceptions during his junior and senior seasons at Piscataway (N.J.) Town- ship High. • Was listed in the Rivals Industry Ranking as the No. 12 cornerback nationally and No. 7 player in New Jersey. Safety CHRISTIAN ASKEW Fr. | 6-4 | 199 • Joined Penn State's 2026 class in January after being released from his letter of intent with James Madison. • Was unranked by Rivals coming out of Veterans High in Kathleen, Ga. JEREMIAH COOPER R-Sr. | 6-0 | 188 • Made 30 starts at Iowa State and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors as a sopho- more. • Working his way back from an injury that ended his 2025 season after just four games. OMARION DAVIS So. | 5-11 | 198 • Saw action on 153 snaps at strong safety as a true freshman at Boston College, finishing with 13 tackles. • Totaled 161 tackles and 4 interceptions in his final two seasons at Indian Land High in Charlotte, N.C. IBN MCDANIELS R-So. | 6-3 | 202 • Played in 11 games during his redshirt freshman season at Syracuse and fin- ished with 2 tackles. • Saw action in four games as a true freshman, totaling 2 tackles and a pass breakup. MARCUS NEAL JR. Jr. | 6-1 | 216 • Tied for the team lead with 77 tackles at Iowa State last fall, adding 2 intercep- tions, 3 pass breakups, a forced fumble and a sack. • Played in 13 games as a true freshman with the Cyclones, totaling 18 tackles and a sack. JAMISON PATTON Sr. | 6-2 | 206 • Had 48 tackles and 2 interceptions while starting nine games at Iowa State last year. • Suffered a season-ending injury in No- vember. BRYSON WILLIAMS Fr. | 6-4 | 188 • Totaled 73 tackles, including 6 for loss, and 6 interceptions as a senior at West- side High in Omaha, Neb. • Also played quarterback and had 1,858 yards of total offense his junior and se- nior years. Making his first career start, cornerback Daryus Dixson had a game-high 3 pass breakups in the Pinstripe Bowl versus Clemson. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS