Alex McPherson comes to Penn State with the kind of frame that jumps off the page immediately. At 6-foot-6 and 254 pounds, he looks the part of an edge defender, and the Nittany Lions are betting on the upside that comes with that length and size.
He is not walking into Happy Valley as a polished finished product. But he does bring something valuable: real college snaps, a track record of production in high school, and enough pass-rush flashes to make him worth developing.
McPherson’s path to Penn State started at Martin County High School before he transferred to IMG Academy in 2023. By the time he finished his senior year there, he had become one of IMG’s most productive defenders. He led the team in sacks and tackles for loss while putting up 52 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, nine sacks, six quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and two pass breakups.
That wasn’t a one-year spike, either. His sophomore season at Martin County was strong in its own right, with 53 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, seven sacks and two forced fumbles.
Recruiting services viewed him as a solid prospect, with 247Sports, On3 and ESPN all rating him as a three-star. Rivals had him pegged as the No. 31 edge defender in his class.
His first college stop was Colorado, where he played in 10 games during the 2025 season. The stat line was modest - 16 tackles, six quarterback hurries, a half-sack, a half-tackle for loss and one blocked punt - but there were clear signs of usefulness.
McPherson’s best stretch came in the middle of the season. He had four tackles against BYU, two solo stops at TCU and then a season-high five tackles, including four solo, against Iowa State. He also made an early mark on special teams by blocking a punt against Delaware.
Pro Football Focus charted 211 defensive snaps for McPherson. He earned a 63.6 overall grade and a 65.6 pass-rushing grade, along with 10 pressures - one sack, two hits and seven hurries.
That’s the profile Penn State is working with now: a young edge player who has already shown he can affect games in different ways, but still has plenty of room to grow. In the new system, McPherson will get the chance to turn those flashes into something more consistent.
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