Penn State needed something to cling to after a 24-20 loss to Wisconsin, and Josiah Zayas supplied it.
The true freshman cornerback from Edison, New Jersey, turned in the kind of moment that can change how a young player is viewed inside a defense. Early in the second quarter, Zayas jumped a Colton Joseph throw, picked it off, and raced 49 yards for a touchdown. It was the first defensive score of the season for Penn State and the first touchdown of Zayas’ career.
For a veteran-heavy roster with limited openings for newcomers, Zayas has found a way to matter quickly in D’Anton Lynn’s defense. A three-star prospect, he got on the field right away and has started building momentum with each chance he gets. The interception against Wisconsin was his first real splash play, and it came with a highlight-reel finish - a one-handed grab from his defensive back spot that has helped push him toward more snaps at cornerback.
Pro Football Focus took notice in a big way. Zayas was graded as the highest-rated true freshman in Power 4 college football in Week 4 with a 93.1, which put him 8.5 points ahead of the next closest freshman, Vanderbilt safety Mason Lewis. PFF also put him on its National Team of the Week.
Through four games, the 6-foot-2 corner has seven tackles, two tackles for loss and one pass defended.
Zayas’ path to Happy Valley included an original commitment to Matt Campbell’s staff at Iowa State before he flipped to Penn State during the transition period.
Now the Nittany Lions turn around quickly for a Friday night matchup with Northwestern at 8 p.m. Penn State is trying to avoid an 0-2 start in Big Ten play for the second straight season. The game will air nationally on FOX as the Wildcats open the new Ryan Field.
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Penn State Has A New Defensive Concern Ahead Of Northwestern
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Matt Campbell Faces Bigger Penn State Debate After Wisconsin Collapse
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Campbell also stood by his play-calling in the game where Penn State let a 17-0 lead slip away, saying the balance between aggression and caution was deliberate even if the execution was not there in the biggest moments. He sounded confident in his players talent and pointed to the mental side of the job as a key part of the issue, which leaves the larger question of how the Nittany Lions translate that belief into cleaner finishes still hanging in the air. [Read more 🡒]