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Penn State Freshman Josiah Zayas Standing Out
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- Penn State Freshman Josiah Zayas Standing Out
| Source: Lastwordonsports.com - Tony Siracusa, CFB Managing Editor
Through all the changes Penn State's roster has seen over the last nine months, one position group has remained relatively unchanged.
The Nittany Lions retained starting cornerbacks Daryus Dixson, Audavion Collins and Zion Tracy . The three defensive backs made a combined 24 starts a season ago and were primed to start even more games this year. That was until Tracy was struck with an apparent hand injury during training camp.
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The Nittany Lions' cornerback room doesn't boast as much experience as it did in 2025, with A.J. Harris, Elliot Washington II and Kenny Woseley Jr. all hitting the transfer portal. That's nearly 2,300 career snaps out the door.
So when Tracy went down, Penn State turned to true freshman Josiah Zayas.
Penn State Freshman Josiah Zayas Makes an Early Impact
Zayas recorded his first career start on Saturday against Marshall . The 6′-2″ New Jersey native posted two tackles for loss and allowed three catches on four targets for nine yards in coverage. The former four-star recruit played the second-most snaps on the defense with 34.
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"I don't know if you could say enough about what he did defensively Saturday for a true freshman," Matt Campbell said. "He certainly didn't look or feel like that on Saturday."
It was a statement start for the true freshman. Not only did Zayas play well, but on top of that, he was the first true freshman to start a season opener on defense since John Reid in 2015.
Reid went on to make 122 career tackles, pick off seven passes, and was drafted by the Houston Texans in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
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While it's too soon to make any direct career projections for Zayas, Saturday was an encouraging beginning, but it didn't come as a surprise to the coaching staff.
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Defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn noted Zayas' accelerated mental progression from spring practice to fall camp, saying that Zayas was playing quicker, communicating more and not letting bad plays compound while seeing increased snaps.
"He just got better and better every day in camp, and we felt like he earned the right to play," Lynn said.
Zayas' Fit in Lynn's Defense Moving Forward
Not only is Tracy working his way back, but so is Iowa State transfer Jeremiah Cooper . Both Cooper and Tracy represent Penn State's more versatile defenders.
Tracy has played the majority of his career as a slot corner, roughly 61% of his career snaps, but also has experience at outside corner and free safety. Tracy is now a senior with 85 career tackles, three pass breakups, two picks, five pass breakups and a touchdown.
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Cooper is primarily a safety who also plays in the slot, roughly 48% of his career snaps, but also plays in the box, over the top, and at cornerback. Cooper is a fifth-year senior with 134 career tackles, 22 pass breakups, eight interceptions and a touchdown.
Cooper and Tracy's ability to play the slot clouds Zayas' outlook moving forward. Of Zayas' 34 snaps against Marshall, 29 came from the slot.
Lynn called Tracy "probably the most versatile DB" on the team and said he plans for Tracy to still play the slot moving forward. But could Tracy's versatile skill set create opportunities for Zayas to work in at slot corner?
"We want to keep on getting [Zayas] reps in the slot, but Zion's still going to be in the slot," Lynn said. "There's going to be times where Zion's going to be at corner. There'll be games where Zion's playing safety. He's kind of a chess piece that we can kind of move around each week."
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Another big game for Zayas against Temple this week could force the coaching staff's hand into receiving more playing time. The Owls struggled to pass against Rhoad Island in last week's season opener, throwing for just 142 yards and a touchdown.
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