Matt Campbell didn’t wait long to trust Josiah Zayas.
The true freshman cornerback from Edison, N.J., got the start in Penn State’s Week 1 matchup with Marshall, running out with the Nittany Lions’ first defensive unit alongside Audavion Collins, Daryus Dixson, Jamison Patton and Marcus Neal Jr. Zayas earned the nod over returning senior Zion Tracy, a clear sign that his fall camp surge carried straight into the opener.
Campbell made it plain during camp why Zayas kept climbing.
"He's made big plays every single practice that he's been here," Campbell said of Zayas during fall camp.
That production has come with a level of flexibility that clearly matters to Penn State’s staff. Campbell pointed to Zayas’ ability to line up at corner, safety or nickel, giving the defense another piece it can move around as needed. That kind of versatility can become even more valuable later in the season if injuries start to hit.
Zayas arrived in Happy Valley with a résumé that didn’t scream blue-chip star, but the numbers told part of the story: 67 tackles, five tackles for loss and nine interceptions out of high school. He was ranked No. 44 at cornerback and No. 414 nationally by the 247Sports Composite, and he had only eight offers out of high school.
But the rankings didn’t stop Campbell from betting on him, and Saturday gave fans their first real look at why. Zayas was tested early and often, and while there were a few growing pains, nothing about his debut felt overwhelming.
He helped set the tone on Penn State’s first defensive series, finishing a three-and-out by covering wide receiver Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw and making the tackle for loss on third-and-three.
Later, on Marshall’s third drive, Carlos Rio-Wilson completed a pass to tight end toby Payne near the line to gain, and Zayas came downhill to finish the play from below. That stopped Payne short of the first-down marker and showed the kind of vision and finish the freshman brought all day.
Zayas was also flagged for defensive holding on that series, though the call looked questionable on a second viewing and didn’t appear to be anything major.
His instincts showed up again in the second quarter. With Rio-Wilson keying on defensive end Alexander McPherson before handing off to Jo'Shon Barbie, Zayas helped swarm the play and dragged Barbie down behind the line for a tackle for loss that pushed Marshall back six yards.
He was still around the ball near the end of the first half, too. Zayas matched up with Payne again with under a minute left, and while Marshall couldn’t finish the play in the end zone on Rio-Wilson’s target, Zayas was close enough to make a tackle if needed.
For a player whose fall camp momentum turned into a Week 1 start, that was a strong first step. Zayas finished the first half with two tackles for loss, and Penn State already has reason to believe the freshman belongs on the field.
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Bacon has been spending time with the defensive line coaches to sharpen his pass-rushing work, which is the part of the transition that will matter most as the season unfolds. If he keeps building on that debut, Penn State may have stumbled into a useful upgrade in a place where production can change the feel of the entire defense. [Read more 🡒]