Penn State’s defense has had its rough patches, but the cornerback room has been a different story entirely. Audavion Collins and Daryus Dixson have given the Nittany Lions a pair of high-end cover men, and the numbers back it up: Penn State’s pass defense ranks third nationally, allowing just 141.4 yards per game, best among Power 4 teams.
That group is about more than just those two. Freshmen Jahmir Joseph and Josiah Zayas have started to trend upward, with Zayas posting 2 interceptions and 2.5 tackles for loss, while senior Zion Tracy has shown enough versatility to slide over to safety in recent weeks. But the foundation is Collins and Dixson, two corners who arrived at Penn State by very different routes and have become central pieces of the defense.
Collins, a Georgia native and Mississippi State transfer, has climbed from trusted backup in 2024 to honorable mention All-Big Ten starter in 2025 and now into the conversation as one of the nation’s top lockdown corners. Through this season, he has allowed just five completions on 20 targets and leads the Nittany Lions with nine pass breakups.
"AC’s had to go up the rough side of the mountain to become a great football player," Campbell said this week. "Nothing’s been handed to AC Collins."
His impact has shown up in more than coverage. Collins even got an offensive touch against Purdue, becoming the first Penn State defensive player with a rush attempt since York County’s Chaz Powell in 2008.
He turned that carry into 11 yards, bursting smoothly through the right side of the line. Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser called him "the hardest working guy on the field, at all times."
Dixson’s rise has been just as important. The sophomore was already making noise as a freshman last season, when he played every game and finished with six pass breakups, a sack and two forced fumbles. This fall, he has started every game, picked off his first career pass against Wisconsin and looked more comfortable in coverage with each week.
He’s also a weapon as a blitzer. Against Purdue, his third-quarter pressure on Ryan Browne forced an errant throw that turned into a key interception.
For a Penn State defense that has battled inconsistency, especially against the run and in getting after the quarterback, Collins and Dixson have been the steadying force.
"They are pros, pros in my opinion," he said, talking of Collins and Dixson. "These are guys that are mature.
They love the game of football. They’re detailed, they’re precise, they’re consistent.
It’s elite and those two have been the rock of being elite. They have been outstanding.
It’s really hard to be perfect, but I think those guys have played as close to great football every step of the way.
"What more you would want is you’d want them to consistently finish the way they played all year because, if they do, you got a really special story."
That pass defense is about to get another serious test Saturday at Washington, where dual threat quarterback Demond Williams Jr. will challenge one of the Big Ten’s best cornerback tandems.
In Other News...
Penn State Just Got A Bigger Problem For Washington Trip
Washingtons quarterback situation is suddenly worth watching closely heading into Penn States trip west, because Jedd Fisch said Demond Williams is expected to start if he feels healthy. Williams has dealt with injuries and uneven play throughout the 2026 season, but he also showed why Washington wants him back on the field when he returned late in a recent game and helped finish off a win.
For Penn State, that changes the shape of the matchup in a hurry. Williams has already been through enough this season to make his availability a real week-to-week question, yet his presence gives Washington a different ceiling and a more dangerous look than the backup plan would offer. The Nittany Lions will be preparing for the possibility that the Huskies get their quarterback back at close to full strength, even if the final call still hinges on how he feels before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Biggest Injury Concern Just Got More Interesting
Penn States injury report brought a little more clarity heading into its matchup with Washington, with left tackle Malachi Goodman and receiver Chase Sowell both listed as probable. Goodman has been a steady presence up front all season, starting all eight games and leading the Nittany Lions in offensive snaps, so his status matters well beyond one lineup note. Defensive tackle Armstrong Nnodim is also probable, giving the team a better look on both sides of the ball as the week moves along.
Koby Howard is the one name still worth watching, though, after being listed as questionable. For a Penn State offense that has leaned on continuity in the trenches and depth at receiver, the final call there could shape how the staff approaches its options against Washington. The update leaves the Nittany Lions in a better spot than they might have been, but not quite out of the woods yet. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Campbell Just Gave Penn State Fans A New Reason To Hope
Matt Campbells approach against Purdue offered Penn State fans something they have not seen enough of this season: a little more edge. The fake field goal was the kind of call that immediately changes the feel of a game, and it fit with a broader willingness to take chances instead of settling into the safer, more conservative script that had defined much of the year.
Campbell also showed he was willing to trust his offense in a spot where most coaches would think twice, going for it on fourth down from his own 28-yard line. For a fan base that has spent plenty of time waiting for the Nittany Lions to play with more conviction, those choices mattered, and they left a real question hanging over the rest of the season: was this a one-game shift, or the start of a bolder Penn State identity? [Read more 🡒]