Penn State’s fall camp has turned into a showcase for the younger guys, and one freshman in particular is forcing the staff to take notice.
Josiah Zayas has been one of the clearest standouts so far, and Matt Campbell made it obvious on Thursday that the cornerback’s versatility is a real weapon. Campbell said, "He's made big plays every single practice that he's been here," and added, "Every single day that guy has showed up and he's got this unique trait that he can do a lot of things. He can play corner, he can play safety, he can play nickel; and he's a guy that's just a really, really talented football player."
Zayas arrived as a three-star cornerback in the 2026 class, ranked 414 nationally, No. 44 at his position and No. 6 in New Jersey, according to 247Sports Composite rankings. He had originally committed to Iowa State before flipping to Penn State after Campbell made the jump.
That kind of flexibility matters because the secondary already has plenty of bodies to sort through. At cornerback, Campbell and defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn can lean on senior Zion Tracy, redshirt senior Audavion Collins, sophomore Daryis Dixson and redshirt sophomore Ibn McDaniels.
Safety isn’t short on options either, with Jeremiah Cooper, Marcus Neal Jr. Jamison Patton and Vaboue Toure in the mix.
What makes Zayas useful is that he doesn’t have to be locked into one spot. Campbell and Lynn can move him around the defensive backfield, get him work at multiple positions and figure out where he can help most. Even if he isn’t immediately sitting atop the depth chart at corner or safety, those camp reps give the staff a chance to identify where the room needs help and where he can fit into the rotation.
Zayas isn’t the only freshman drawing praise. Defensive end Jackson Ford has also caught the staff’s attention, as has wide receiver Amarion Jackson. Peytzon Falzone has been adjusting after moving from quarterback to tight end, and Campbell has liked both his willingness to make the switch and the way the transition has gone so far.
The new NCAA eligibility rules make that development even easier to embrace. There’s no need to hold back freshmen for the sake of protecting a redshirt season, and Campbell doesn’t have to worry about playing these guys early and losing anything in the long run. With Penn State’s easy schedule, those snaps could end up being a benefit for both the players and the program.
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