Penn State’s 45-0 win over Marshall didn’t just open the season with a shutout. It also gave the Nittany Lions a first real look at a handful of players who may have changed the way this team looks moving forward.
Some were newcomers, some were returners, and some simply looked ready for bigger roles than anyone outside the building may have expected. Week 1 offered a clean snapshot of who made the most of their chance - and Penn State has Temple next to see whether those performances hold up.
One of the biggest surprises came in the secondary, where true freshman Zayas stepped in at nickelback for Zion Tracy, who was still working back from a camp injury. Tracy still made his presence felt with five tackles in 18 snaps, and his role should grow as he gets healthier.
But Zayas didn’t just fill in. He earned real trust.
A 3-star signee from New Jersey in Penn State’s 2026 recruiting class, Zayas was expected to see some action after a strong camp. Starting over a senior was another level entirely. He ended up leading all cornerbacks with 34 snaps, adding two tackles and a quarterback hurry.
Lynn said Zayas kept getting better throughout camp, eventually reaching the point where "we felt like he earned the right to play."
"I don't know if you could say enough about what he did defensively Saturday for a true freshman," Campbell said of Zayas. "He certainly didn't look or feel like that on Saturday."
Penn State also got a useful jolt from its tight end room, where Rappleyea may have delivered the most complete moment of the group even though Ben Brahmer caught the first touchdown pass among the tight ends. Rappleyea’s best snap came on the opening touchdown drive, a 42-yard connection from Becht to Howard, when he lined up to Becht’s left and picked up a cornerback blitz long enough for the quarterback to work through his progression.
"The physicality that he picks that up with, it really allows Rocco to get to his third progression," Campbell said.
Rappleyea’s only catch of the game turned into more than it should have, a 2-yard route that he powered into 18 yards with the kind of downhill run he likes to make. He’s Penn State’s most physical tight end, and with Gabe Burkle returning this week, the offense suddenly has options with that trio. Rappleyea also missed spring drills and part of camp, but if he stays healthy, he could become the unit’s most complete contributor.
The offensive line had its own standout in Brock Riker. Right tackle Anthony Donkoh graded highest on PFF, but the coaching staff gave the nod to Riker, and Campbell said the center was Penn State’s highest-graded offensive player against Marshall.
Riker arrived with real credentials, having been a second-team freshman All-American at Texas State last season and one of offensive coordinator Ryan Clanton’s prized portal additions. Clanton’s reaction when Riker accepted Penn State’s offer in January told you plenty about how much the staff wanted him. After one game, it looks like the fit is real.
"From a communication standpoint to physicality at the point of attack, I thought he was outstanding; played really good football," Campbell said of Riker. "...
I thought [left tackle] Malachi [Goodman] graded out in a really positive way as well. But I thought Brock was the guy to me, just even on the offense, that was as dynamic as I'd seen him play, even early on in camp."
On the other side of the ball, Caleb Bacon wasted no time announcing himself. The Big Ten’s co-defensive player of the week packed six tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack into just 19 defensive snaps.
He stacked up consecutive TFLs on an early Marshall drive and helped smother the offense before it ever found rhythm. Marshall quarterback Carlos Del-Rio Wilson finished with just 30 rushing yards, and Bacon was a big reason why.
Bacon isn’t lining up where he did at Iowa State. Penn State’s 4-2-5 setup narrowed his path at inside linebacker, so Lynn and Campbell tried him on the edge more regularly. That move made sense because Bacon already spent about half of last season’s snaps near the line of scrimmage.
He brings burst, force and enough closing speed to live in the backfield. He also finishes tackles. That combination should make him a major factor against the run and a three-down option, especially when Penn State leans into its four-end package.
"He did some things on the edge in practice that made us think, 'Man, this guy can do more than just play inside backer,'" Lynn said. "He can set an edge on early downs, he can drop in coverage, he can rush, he can just do a lot of things from that position.
And with his inside backer background, he has a high football IQ for a guy on the edge. He’s a guy you can do a lot of different things with, so we’re going to keep on being creative in how we implement him in the plan."
In Other News...
Penn State Mourns A Former Star As New Details Emerge
Matt Suhey, the former Penn State star who went on to become a key part of the Chicago Bears championship-era offense, was found dead at his home in Deerfield, Illinois. The Lake County Coroners Office said there were no suspicious circumstances, and later indicated his death was due to natural causes tied to his significant medical history.
For Penn State, Suheys legacy reaches well beyond his pro career, rooted in his time as a reliable and rugged presence in the backfield before he became known in Chicago as Walter Paytons lead blocker. He also found the end zone in the Bears Super Bowl XX victory, a fitting footnote for a player whose value was often measured in the hard work that helped everyone around him shine. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Offense May Have Found A Tone Setter At Tight End
Penn States offense had plenty of easy highlights in its 45-0 win over Marshall, but one of the quieter reasons for the fast start came at tight end. Andrew Rappleyea showed up in the kind of ways coaches tend to love, helping set the tone on the first touchdown and making his presence felt with the physical work that can open up bigger plays for everyone else.
Matt Campbell praised Rappleyeas impact on multiple scoring snaps, and offensive lineman Cooper Cousins pointed to the kind of energy and work ethic that shows up both on the field and away from it. For a Penn State offense still sorting out its identity, that is the sort of detail that can matter as much as the final score, especially if Rappleyea keeps turning into the kind of steady force defenses have to account for. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Pass Rusher Faces A Tough Fight For Early Snaps
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The timing leaves Penn State waiting to see when Arrington can get back into the mix, with a return that could come around Week 6 or 7 if the rehab stays on track. Even then, he will be trying to make up missed time in a spot where practice reps matter, especially for a player hoping to carve out a role on the edge. For now, the question is less about what Arrington can do and more about how soon the Nittany Lions can count on him again. [Read more 🡒]