Tanook Hines isn’t spending much time worrying about Penn State’s secondary. The USC sophomore wideout made that much clear after practice on Oct. 6, with the Trojans preparing for a major road test against the No.
4 Nittany Lions on Oct. 10 at 4:30 p.m. PT in Beaver Stadium’s White Out atmosphere.
When asked what jumped out about the Penn State defensive backfield, Hines didn’t bite.
“Not much,” Hines said of what stood out to him about the unit. “Probably just the stadium.”
That doesn’t mean the challenge isn’t real. Penn State’s defense has been one of the nation’s best this season, sitting No. 22 in yards per game at 292.8, No. 16 in points per game at 16.0, No. 1 in yards per pass at 4.7 and No. 2 in passing yards per game at 119.6. The secondary has also produced three interceptions and nine pass breakups, with four of those breakups coming from cornerback Audavion Collins.
Daryus Dixon has added 10 total tackles and an interception from the starting corner spot, while nickelback Zion Tracy brings another layer of difficulty for opposing receivers. Tracy has 14 total tackles and two pass breakups, and at 5-11, 184 pounds with a 6-to-7 foot wingspan, he gives Penn State a versatile defender who can move around the secondary.
Still, the crowd may be the bigger issue for USC’s offense than any one defender. Hines acknowledged how loud White Out games can get and pointed to the communication stress that comes with it.
“I'd say it's pretty loud out there. So like communication gotta be on point,” Hines said.
For Hines, the matchup comes after a season that has already asked him to be more than just another receiver in the rotation. He entered the 2026 season as the lone returning starter in USC’s wide receiver room, with expectations to help guide quarterback Jayden Maiava while Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane were gone. Then a procedure for an undisclosed injury slowed him in the spring.
He missed Week 0 and needed time to settle back into the offense, logging anywhere from zero to three catches across his first four games. But he broke through in Week 5 against Washington with five receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown. Through that point, Hines had 11 catches for 113 yards and three touchdowns.
“I already feel my best right now,” Hines said about his health.
USC has had to piece together production around him. NC State transfer Terrell Anderson also dealt with an undisclosed injury and has been slow to get rolling since returning in Week 3. Freshman Trent Mosley, now Maiava’s top target, has missed three straight games with a knee injury.
That has opened the door for other young pass catchers to make their mark. Freshman Kayden Dixon-Wyatt has stepped into a bigger role, while fellow freshmen Tron Baker and Ethan “Boobie” Feaster have chipped in as well. Redshirt-sophomores Corey Simms, who is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, and Zacharyus Williams have also delivered in key moments with big plays.
Maiava has kept the passing game moving despite the shuffling cast around him. He has thrown for 1,744 yards, which ranks No. 2 in the nation, while completing 68.6 percent of his passes.
He also has 15 touchdowns, tied for third nationally, against just three interceptions, along with an 82.8 quarterback rating that ranks No. 13.
Hines said the freshmen have made the transition easier than expected.
“Their personality. I feel like it's already feel like its NFL ready...Feel like they’ve already been in college as soon as they got on campus,” Hines said about the freshmen receivers.
He also said being in the starting mix as a freshman has helped him connect with the younger players now.
“For sure, way easier,” Hines said about how his starting-freshman experience helps his connect to the young guys. “Just like IQ for the game, they sort of already had it in their bag. So like, some little things I can give to them.”
And through all of the lineup changes, Maiava has remained the steady voice and presence in the huddle.
“Yeah, he's just coming to us every single day, just making us better,” Hines said about the senior quarterback.
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Penn States White Out Puts One USC Advantage Under Pressure
The White Out at Penn State is already looming as a major test for USC, but it also carries a familiar twist for Lincoln Riley. On the other side will be DAnton Lynn, now Penn States defensive coordinator, who spent last season on Rileys USC staff and helped stabilize a Trojans defense that had been searching for answers. Their shared background gives this matchup an unusual layer of familiarity, with both coaches knowing something about how the other thinks and prepares.
For Penn State, Lynns return to the opposite sideline adds intrigue to a game that will be driven as much by adjustments as by atmosphere. Riley has long been one of the sports sharper offensive minds, and Lynns recent success against that same environment gives the Nittany Lions a meaningful point of confidence. There is mutual respect between the two, but Saturday night is about more than that history. It is a chance to see which coach can turn familiarity into an edge when the crowd, the stakes and the pressure are all at their peak. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State White Out Just Got Bigger Than Anyone Wanted
Penn State is heading into Saturday nights White Out with a lot more on the line than usual, and not just because No. 19 USC is coming to Beaver Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff. The Nittany Lions have spent the past couple weeks trying to steady themselves after losses to Wisconsin and Northwestern, results that have put a spotlight on a season that was supposed to feel more settled by now.
USC arrives with the kind of profile that can make an already charged environment feel even heavier. Lincoln Rileys team is 5-1 and has flashed the offensive punch that has become its calling card, even if the defense has left room for concern. For Penn State, the White Out is no longer just about pageantry and atmosphere. Its a chance to halt the slide before the questions around Matt Campbells tenure grow any louder. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Still Needs More From One Key Pass Rusher
Penn States defense came out of the Northwestern game with a few reminders of how thin the margin can be up front. The run defense gave up more ground than usual, the sack count stayed low, and the overall pressure package never quite found a steady rhythm. For a unit that has leaned on disruption to set the tone, it was the kind of afternoon that left the staff looking for a little more from the edge.
Yvan Kemajou has been part of that conversation because the flashes are there, but defensive coordinator DAnton Lynn made it clear the next step is consistency. Penn State likes the playmaking potential Kemajou brings, and the coaches know there is still room for the defense to tighten up as the season moves on. The upside remains obvious, but the Lions are still waiting for that pass-rushing spark to show up snap after snap. [Read more 🡒]