Penn State’s first two-deep of the Matt Campbell era is starting to come into focus, and the clearest themes are size, youth and a few lingering battles that still need time to settle.
With the season opener nearing, the Nittany Lions’ projected depth chart shows how Campbell and his staff are sorting through the roster after fall camp. Some jobs are still up for grabs and several spots are expected to rotate, but the picture is sharper now thanks to transfer additions, younger players pushing for time and veterans who have held their ground.
On offense, the most significant fight of the offseason played out at left tackle. That competition narrowed from a three-man race, and Malachi Goodman pulled ahead by showing more consistency in camp. Owen Alicene now projects as the main backup there, while Garrett Sexton continues to develop behind Anthony Donkoh, whose value comes from being able to move around the line.
The other offensive storyline worth tracking is the receiver group. Amarion Jackson and Zay Robinson have drawn steady praise from Campbell all camp long, and both look ready to play meaningful snaps.
Running back is the hardest spot to pin down. Carson Hansen is projected to open Week 1 as RB1, but the margin separating him from James Peoples, Quinton Martin and Cam Wallace is extremely thin. That four-man race figures to keep rolling through the non-conference schedule.
Defensively, the front is built around a lot of size, especially inside. The projected tackle rotation comes in at nearly 315 pounds on average, which stands out even before the ball is snapped.
The edge spots are where the biggest questions live. Ike Ezeogu had what might have been the strongest offseason of any Penn State defensive end, and his rise is part of why the staff shifted Caleb Bacon from linebacker to the edge. In this projection, Yvan Kemajou gets the starting nod opposite Ezeogu, but Bacon’s knack for winning at the line of scrimmage could make him impossible to keep off the field.
Penn State’s projected defense also shows one of its clearest strengths at safety and one of its biggest depth concerns. Marcus Neal and Jeremiah Cooper are the starting duo, and the source material calls them one of the Big Ten’s best.
The issue comes after that, where the drop-off is real. Vaboue Toure has the kind of talent that could turn him into a dependable piece, and his early-season growth looks like one of the key things to watch.
Here is how the projected two-deep lines up entering Week 1:
Offense
Left tackle: Malachi Goodman - Owen Alicene
Left guard: Garrett Sexton - Anthony Donkoh
Center: [not listed in source]
Right guard: [not listed in source]
Right tackle: [not listed in source]
Running back: Carson Hansen - James Peoples - Quinton Martin - Cam Wallace
The source highlights the receiver group but does not provide a full offensive two-deep listing.
Defense
DE: Ike Ezeogu - Max Granville
DT: Keanu Williams - Siale Taupaki
DT: Armstrong Nnodim - Dallas Vakalahi
DE: Yvan Kemajou - Caleb Bacon
WILL: Tony Rojas - Alex Tatsch
MIKE: Kooper Ebel - Cael Brezina
LCB: Daryus Dixson - Joshua Johnson
RCB: Audavion Collins - Jahmir Joseph
Nickel: Zion Tracy - Ibn McDaniels
Strong Safety: Marcus Neal - Vaboue Toure
Free Safety: Jeremiah Cooper - Jamison Patton
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