In 2022, Michigan steamrolled Penn State for 418 rushing yards-a moment that left a lasting mark in Happy Valley. Then-head coach James Franklin didn’t sugarcoat it.
He pointed straight at the defensive line, saying his program just wasn’t big enough up front. That game became a turning point-not just in the trenches, but in the program’s overall approach to player development and nutrition.
It even helped fuel the push for a dedicated athletics cafeteria, which finally opened in 2025.
Franklin did manage to bulk up the front line over his final three seasons, nudging more players past the 300-pound mark. But the size gains didn’t quite translate to dominance.
From 2021 to 2025, only three Penn State defensive tackles listed at 310 pounds or more logged over 100 snaps. And in 2025, as the Nittany Lions fell short of their national title hopes, their biggest contributor inside was 6-2, 300-pound Xavier Gilliam-solid, but still undersized by elite Big Ten standards.
Fast forward to 2026, and the picture looks very different.
Under new head coach Matt Campbell and defensive line coach Ikaika Malloe, Penn State is taking a no-nonsense approach to size and physicality in the trenches. The Nittany Lions now feature three defensive tackles tipping the scales at over 310 pounds: Siale Taupaki (6-2, 310), Dallas Vakalahi (6-2, 318), and Keanu Williams (6-5, 320). That’s not a coincidence-it’s a clear shift in philosophy.
“We totally reshaped the D-line,” Campbell said this week. “Our vision is bigger and physical.
This is the Big Ten-you’ve gotta stop the run. We’ve gotta be big and physical in there, especially on the interior.”
That’s not just coach-speak. It’s a calculated pivot away from the old-school mindset that prioritized shorter, stouter linemen to win the pad-level battle. Malloe, who coached NFL standout Vita Vea at Washington, has seen how size and athleticism can coexist-and dominate.
“Vita Vea was a running back in high school,” Malloe said. “So I started to look for more of those athletic abilities. What you found was those guys could do just as much, if not more, than the shorter guys-plus you have longer levers and whatnot.”
Malloe doesn’t box his players into rigid roles like three-tech or one-tech. Instead, he wants versatile linemen who can mirror both sides of the formation and bring a mix of power and agility. Think big bodies with defensive end traits-not just space-eating nose guards.
That vision is already taking shape, thanks in large part to the leadership of Taupaki and Williams. Both are veteran transfers from UCLA, where Malloe previously served as defensive coordinator.
Taupaki is entering his eighth year of college football, and Williams his sixth. That kind of experience is rare-and invaluable.
They’ve wasted no time setting the tone. Whether it’s leading workouts, organizing weekend sessions, or mentoring younger players, they’ve become foundational pieces in a transfer-heavy locker room still finding its identity.
“Every defensive lineman that I’ve worked with can draw all 11 [players] on the board,” Malloe said. “So those guys understand concepts from schemes to man pressure to zone pressure.
For them to be out there teaching it-that helps me. When I get into the room, they’ve already started to do some things.”
Add in Utah transfer Dallas Vakalahi, who brings a rare blend of size and athleticism, Oklahoma State transfer Armstrong Nnodim, and returning contributor Ty Blanding, and suddenly Penn State’s interior defensive line looks like one of the most intriguing position groups on the roster.
It’s early, but the shift is already clear: this isn’t the same Penn State defensive front that got pushed around in 2022. The 2026 Lions are bigger, more athletic, and built to win battles in the trenches-right where Big Ten titles are decided.