Armstrong Nnodim’s return came at the right time for Penn State.
After missing the first two weeks of the season because of an injury suffered in camp, the transfer defensive tackle was back on the field against Buffalo on Saturday and said the moment felt overdue. Nnodim, who arrived from Oklahoma State and had been projected as one of Penn State’s top defensive tackles to open the year, played in 12 games last season and started four as his role grew throughout 2025.
“It felt great being out there with my guys,” Nnodim said Wednesday. “It felt great being able to be cultural. A lot of respect for Buffalo, but it was just a great feeling to get back out there.”
The wait wasn’t easy for him. Nnodim said being forced to sit out was tough because of how much he loves football and how badly he wanted to help. He also said a conversation with Matt Campbell helped put the situation in perspective, with Campbell telling him he needed to be fully healthy before returning so Penn State wouldn’t take on extra risk during the nonconference schedule.
When Nnodim stepped back into Beaver Stadium, he called the experience “electrifying.” He finished with two tackles in Penn State’s 55-13 win over the Bulls, and when the rust showed up, teammates were there to steady him.
“Every time I had my head down, it was only somebody in my corner to pick me up,” Nnodim said. “Remember that we have a bigger goal.”
That support extended beyond the sideline. Nnodim said his family was part of the moment too, including his father, who was in the stands. He expects to see more of his family around the stadium as the season goes on.
“It meant a lot because my pops sacrificed a lot for me,” Nnodim said. “Him, my mom and all my siblings. He’s one of the milestones that got me to this place.”
Now Penn State is trying to get its defensive tackle room back to full strength ahead of Week 4 against Wisconsin, with Nnodim and fellow injured tackle Alijah Carnell both available again. D’Anton Lynn said missing bodies up front had forced others to stay on the field too long and wear down.
Lynn wants four to five defensive tackles in the rotation, and Nnodim said that kind of depth matters because it keeps “fresh legs” out there. He also pointed to the competition for playing time as a good thing, calling it part of Campbell’s philosophy.
“Every player is going to go 100% for the amount of plays we're in,” Nnodim said. “When you have that depth, it's like you can count on everybody and know that everybody's going to do their job.”
Even with only one game in Lynn’s system so far, Nnodim said he feels confident in what Penn State is building as it moves into conference play.
“Ever since I came here, I've been trusting what all the defensive coaches have been putting out there,” Nnodim said. “I've been trusting the process, and from that it's just been helping me expand my game.”
In Other News...
Penn States Early 2027 Defensive Commits Are Turning Heads
Penn States 2027 recruiting class is already taking shape on the defensive side, and the early additions say plenty about the kind of foundation the staff wants to build. Defensive tackle Aniti Paiva, a 6-foot-2, 315-pound lineman from Skyline High School in Utah, has given the Nittany Lions a big body for the middle, while safety Caleb Cooper of Providence Day School in North Carolina brings size and versatility to the back end. Both players were recruited by position coaches who have made a point of getting involved early, with Ikaika Malloe leading the push for Paiva and Deon Broomfield handling Cooper.
Coopers commitment is especially notable because he joined the class after being added in June, giving Penn State another defensive piece before the group has even fully taken shape. Paiva, meanwhile, arrives with multiple offers already on the table, which makes his pledge a useful early win for a program that has long sold itself on developing defense. The bigger question now is how the staff keeps this momentum going as the 2027 board expands. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Faces One Big Test As Wisconsin Comes To Beaver Stadium
Penn State heads into its Week 4 Big Ten matchup with Wisconsin at Beaver Stadium still trying to sort out its rotation while injuries chip away at both sides of the ball. Max Granville and Koby Howard are part of the conversation as the Nittany Lions work through the early-season bumps, and the focus now shifts to how they can keep the game on their terms in front of a home crowd.
A big piece of that will be slowing Wisconsins Colton Joseph on the ground and forcing the Badgers to work for every yard. On the other side, James Peoples could carry more of the backfield load, Yvan Kemajou may get a chance to make noise as a pass rusher, and Zay Robinson looks like the kind of receiver who could be asked to step into a bigger role if the passing game needs a steady target. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Faces An Early Recruiting Test Matt Campbell Can't Fake
Matt Campbells first weeks at Penn State have delivered the sort of on-field start that buys a coach some breathing room, with a 3-0 record and a No. 13 ranking giving the program an early lift. But the deeper challenge in State College is always bigger than the scoreboard, and Campbell is still in the process of building his recruiting footprint in Pennsylvania while the next wave of prospects begins to take shape.
The 2028 class already includes in-state commitments from quarterback James Armstrong and defensive back Deonte Flemings Jr., and the bigger measuring stick may be edge rusher George Parkinson IV, whose recruitment has become an important barometer for where Penn State stands with top local talent. With more than 60 prospects expected on campus for the homecoming game against Wisconsin, the Nittany Lions have a chance to turn a strong start into something more lasting, even if the real answer on this front will take time to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]