There was a spotlight on linebacker Tony Rojas in Penn State’s season opener, as the redshirt junior returned from a brutal knee injury he sustained last year. However, it was another player on the defense, edge rusher Caleb Bacon, who stole the show.
The Iowa State transfer was second on the team with six tackles on Saturday and tied for the team lead with one sack. He was in the backfield all day long whether he was chasing down Marshall quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson or blowing up a running play.
Bacon was the best player on the Nittany Lions defense last weekend, and he was named the Big Ten co-Defensive Player of the Week for his contributions.
B1G Co-Defensive Player of the Week🥓 @CalebBacon12 pic.twitter.com/XqaGBTDLd1
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) September 7, 2026
Bacon switched
from linebacker to defensive end this summer and the position change has paid off instantly. He showed flashes both rushing the passer and stopping the run, proving his value in new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn’s scheme.
There is a lot more pressure on the defensive line to work with only two linebackers on the field for a majority of the time. Bacon did a good job of giving those guys support at the line of scrimmage, and that was reflected in the stat sheet.
There were multiple Nittany Lions who popped off the screen in Week 1, giving hope for what this team could look like when everyone fully gels.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State DE Caleb Bacon earns Big Ten honors after conference debut
