There were a lot of players who Penn State expected to contribute on defense heading into this season, but not many people thought cornerback Josiah Zayas would be one of them. The freshman made some splash plays in back-to-back weeks against Wisconsin and Northwestern, with a pick-six against the Badgers and a fumble recovery against the Wildcats.
Zayas has become one of the Nittany Lions’ better players on defense in the first half of the season, a tremendous feat for someone of his status. He was just a three-star recruit in high school from a small city in New Jersey, and now he is a rising player for one of the most recognizable college football programs in the nation.
If he keeps developing at this rate, then Zayas could be one of the players
who leads the defense as he matures in the system. He is still a teenager with untapped potential, so the sky is the limit for how good he can be.
Zayas has 13 tackles, one interception, and a fumble recovery so far this season through six games. He’s been one of the most impactful defenders for the Nittany Lions and his role should continue to increase if his play stays at this level.
He has one of the best cornerbacks in all of college football next to him in Audavion Collins, and Zayas could stand to learn a lot from him. He has many resources here in State College to realize his potential.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State cornerback turning heads as true freshman
