Penn State football is hoping to have Daryus Dixson in the lineup for Friday night’s game at Northwestern, but has to prepare for the possibility that it won’t happen.
Dixson is currently listed as questionable on the Big Ten’s availability report, and Penn State coach Matt Campbell confirmed Wednesday morning that his status is up in the air.
The good news is that, if Dixson can’t play, Penn State has players who are capable of stepping up.
JAHMIR JOSEPH
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Per Pro Football Focus, Joseph played 19 snaps at wide corner Saturday against Wisconsin, which is significant considering it wasn’t a game where Penn State could empty the bench the way it did against Marshall, Buffalo and, to a lesser extent, Temple.
Dixson is Penn State’s No. 1 outside corner, and he played a season-high 37 snaps out wide this past Saturday per PFF.
If Dixson is limited or can’t go Friday, one would think Joseph would play more, and Campbell liked what he saw against Wisconsin.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.“I felt Jahmir played his best game that I’ve seen,” Campbell said. “He had a couple of great special teams plays, then really got, I think, almost 20 reps at corner in the game on Saturday.”
As a true freshman, Joseph finished 2025 with an 82.4 overall defensive grade, which ranked second among Penn State defensive players listed by PFF. His best work came in coverage, where he posted an 86.3 grade. Joseph allowed three completions on four targets for 22 yards and no touchdowns, while also being credited with one interception.
His most extended action came in Penn State’s bowl game against Clemson, when he played 43 snaps and finished with five tackles. He also saw action against Nevada, Villanova and Northwestern.
ZION TRACY
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Although Tracy is more experienced overall than Joseph, with this being his fourth season at Penn State, he’s spent less time playing out wide than Joseph this season. Of Tracy’s 125 defensive snaps through four weeks, only 29 have been on the outside, with 69 being in the slot (three have been at free safety, 17 have been in the box and seven have been on the defensive line).
Furthermore, Tracy didn’t play at all on the outside last season and only played 25 snaps out wide in 2024.
With that said, he did play 138 of his 147 defensive snaps under DC Manny Diaz in 2023 outside, so he’s not necessarily a stranger to it.
“Zion gives us so much flexibility,” Campbell said. “I think his ability to play all three spots in the secondary is huge, but he’s played a lot more at corner and has really done a great job out there. So if (Dixson being out is the) case, both of those guys would certainly have to step up and get more reps.”
