Penn State has a safety who already looks the part of one of the Big Ten’s better returning defensive backs.
According to Pro Football Focus, Marcus Neal ranks fourth among Big Ten returners at the position. He earned a 78.8 grade last season, trailing only Minnesota’s Mekhai Smith (89.8), Indiana’s Amare Ferrell (80.1) and Nebraska’s Dwayne McDougle III (79.3).
Neal’s college résumé was built outside the Big Ten, but the production is hard to ignore. He spent his first two seasons at Iowa State, where he played for new Penn State coach Matt Campbell.
In 13 games as a freshman, Neal got his feet wet. Last year, he stepped into a full-time role and started all 12 games.
The numbers jumped with the responsibility. Neal finished second on the team with 77 tackles and added 11 tackles for loss, three sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
He opened the season with a big one against Kansas State, piling up eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. That effort brought him Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors.
From there, Neal kept showing up across the schedule. He had seven tackles and a tackle for loss against Arkansas State, picked off passes against Arizona State and Kansas, and posted a season-high 12 tackles against BYU.
He also proved he could affect plays near the line of scrimmage. Against Oklahoma State, Neal finished with five tackles and two sacks, giving Iowa State another option beyond deep coverage work.
Neal is set to make his Penn State debut Sept. 5 against Marshall. Kickoff is 3:30 on FS1 from Beaver Stadium.
In Other News...
Penn State Is Selling A New Kind Of Game Day Access
Penn State is opening up a different layer of the Beaver Stadium experience this fall, giving fans a chance to buy into a few game-day moments that used to be reserved for insiders. For each home game, the school is offering packages that range from a look inside the radio booth to a pregame walk through the locker room, along with access to the head coachs postgame press conference.
The price tag varies widely, from $698 to $5,153 depending on the experience and how many people are included, which makes these offerings feel less like souvenirs and more like premium access passes. For the Nittany Lions, it is another sign of how much demand there is around home Saturdays, and how creative schools are getting in turning that appetite into something fans can purchase. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Alumni Are Suddenly Making NFL Roster Headlines
Week 2 of the NFL preseason brought a familiar Penn State thread back into view, with several former Nittany Lions making news across the league. Drew Allar drew attention in Pittsburgh with a strong showing after his preseason debut, while Caedan Wallace remained part of the larger roster churn that has kept Penn State alums in the spotlight. For a program that routinely sends players to the next level, this was one of those late-summer stretches when the NFL calendar feels especially tied to Happy Valley.
The bigger movement came with Jaylen Reed, who was traded from the Houston Texans to the New England Patriots, adding another name to the growing list of former Penn State players changing uniforms. And as one chapter opened for some, another closed for Allen Robinson, who announced his retirement after an 11-year career. For Penn State fans, it was a reminder that the leagues roster battles are never far from home, even before the regular season has begun. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden James Just Gave Penn State A Tough Lineup Decision
Jayden James arrives in Happy Valley with the kind of rsum that usually makes the next step feel obvious. The highly decorated incoming freshman has already collected a silver medal at the U20 World Championships and finished high school unbeaten, which is why his addition immediately sharpens Penn States already crowded middleweights. Even for a program built around title contenders, James gives the lineup one more elite piece to sort through.
The problem is figuring out where he fits. Penn State has established wrestlers waiting at the weights in question, and the competition makes this less about talent than timing and opportunity. Some around the sport think 157 pounds may offer a clearer route into the lineup than 174, but the Lions still have to weigh the options carefully before the season settles the matter for them. [Read more 🡒]