Penn State’s defense has been short on splash plays this fall, and a look around the transfer map only sharpens that picture. The Nittany Lions are 3-3 overall and 0-3 in Big Ten play, and after giving up 65 points over their last two games against USC and Northwestern, the lack of pressure up front and resistance against the run has become impossible to ignore. Penn State has only two sacks in six games.
One former Nittany Lion in particular would look awfully useful right now. Xavier Gilliam, the ex-Penn State defensive tackle now at Tennessee, has become a bona fide star for the Volunteers and has been a dominant performer through the first half of the season.
Gilliam isn’t the only departure thriving elsewhere. Penn State fans can also find several former defenders making noise in new uniforms, starting with a familiar name in Knoxville.
Amare Campbell, who led Penn State with 103 tackles last season, has carried that production to Tennessee. Through six games, he is tied for the Vols’ team lead with 38 tackles and has added 4.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 pass breakups and a quarterback hurry.
Dejuan Lane is another former Nittany Lion now contributing at Tennessee. Part of Penn State’s 2025 safety rotation with Zakee Wheatley and King Mack, Lane has put together a busy first stretch with 23 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 pass breakups, 2 interceptions and a quarterback hurry.
Elliot Washington II has found a bigger role at Clemson. Last season, he was a reserve cornerback for Penn State; now he is a starter for the Tigers and has recorded four pass breakups in five games.
Virginia Tech has gotten strong work from two former Penn State edge rushers. Mylachi Williams has been disruptive with 7.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 2 quarterback hurries in six games, while Cortez Harris has started six games and posted 5.5 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 3 quarterback hurries and a blocked kick.
Jaylen Harvey is also carving out a more visible role. After working in Penn State’s edge-rusher rotation last season, he has moved into a more prominent spot at North Carolina and has delivered five tackles for loss, two sacks, two quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries in five games.
In Other News...
Penn State Could Be Getting A Familiar Name Back For A Key Need
Penn State may be getting a familiar name back just as the season moves into a crucial stretch. LaVar Arrington II, the son of College Football Hall of Famer LaVar Arrington, is expected to return to the football team after the bye week, giving the Nittany Lions another option as they look to shore up a need on defense. He spent last season contributing on special teams, and his return adds an intriguing layer for a roster that could use another versatile piece.
The bigger question is where he fits once he is cleared to come back. Coach Matt Campbell said the staff will decide whether Arrington II lines up at linebacker or defensive end, with the goal of putting him in the best spot to make an impact. After missing time this season because of injury, his next role could help determine not just how Penn State uses him, but how quickly he can carve out a meaningful place in the defense again. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Offense May Be Forced Into A Shakeup At Worst Time
Penn States offense is staring at a delicate stretch, and the timing is hardly ideal. Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser pointed to a handful of issues that have slowed the unit in Big Ten play, from the lack of production in three conference losses to the absence of wide receiver Koby Howard because of injury. The Nittany Lions have also come up short too often inside the 20-yard line, turning promising drives into field goals or empty possessions instead of touchdowns.
Mouser said the staff may have to consider changes up front, while freshman receiver Amarion Jackson could also see more of the field as the offense looks for answers. Those adjustments would come as Penn State tries to clean up red zone execution, where the margin for error has become increasingly thin. The next step is finding out whether the reshuffle can spark enough consistency to matter before the schedule tightens any further. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders Just Entered A Long-Term Recruiting Fight In Pennsylvania
Deion Sanders is already taking an early swing in Pennsylvania. Colorado recently extended a scholarship offer to Kaleb Woseley, a 2028 cornerback at Imhotep Charter in Philadelphia, and Woseley shared the news publicly on social media as his recruiting profile continues to rise.
For Penn State, the bigger takeaway is that one of the states most promising young defensive backs is drawing attention well before signing day ever becomes a factor. Woseley is viewed as a versatile player with interest from multiple power-conference programs, and Colorados move signals an effort to get in on the ground floor and start building a relationship long before the chase really tightens. [Read more 🡒]