Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Football

Beau Freyler TitleQuality Control - Defense RELATED FOOTBALLDECEMBER 12, 2025 Penn State Football Announces 10 Additions to 2026 Staff

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS Lynn, who has experience coaching at both the collegiate and NFL levels, joins the Nittany Lions following a two-year stint as USC's defensive coordinator. Since 2023, Lynn’s only year as a defensive coordinator with the UCLA Bruins, he is fifth among defensive coordinators in yards per completions (10.48) and red zone rush touchdown percentage (25.0%), eighth in fewest fourth quarter points allowed per game (4.74), and 10th in fewest rush touchdowns per season (12.0) and red zone touchdown percentage (51.61%). During the 2025 season, USC ranks second in the Big Ten in red zone defense (73.7%; 13th nationally) and third down conversion defense (33.5%; 21st). First-team All-American safety Bishop Fitzgerald ranks second nationally in interceptions per game in 2025 (0.5) and is fifth in total interceptions (5), while linebacker Eric Gentry ranks third nationally in forced fumbles per game (0.42). In Lynn’s first season with the Trojans, USC held opponents to an average of just 24.1 points per game, improving from 34.4 in 2023. The Trojans finished the 2024 season ranked second in the Big Ten and 21st nationally in third-down conversion percentage defense (33.5%), compared to ranking No. 106 (43.6%) in 2023. Safety Jaylin Smith earned All-Big Ten third-team honors, recording 59 tackles, including four tackles for loss and a team-leading 2 interceptions. Prior to USC, Lynn served as the defensive coordinator at UCLA in 2023, where he completely transforme

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS A two-time first-team All-American linebacker and the 2007 Chuck Bednarik Award winner, Dan Connor enters his fourth season with the Nittany Lions and his first season officially as the team’s linebackers coach. Connor made the return to his alma mater in 2022 as a defensive analyst, spending the next two seasons working closely with the defensive staff. In 2024, he oversaw the Nittany Lions' linebacking unit, a group who played a significant role in Penn State ranking fourth in the FBS in interceptions, seventh in total defense (294.8), eighth in scoring defense (16.5), 10th in takeaways (26) and 13th in passes defended (72) during the 2024 season. Connor tutored a pair of All-Big Ten linebackers during the 2024 campaign in Kobe King (second team) and Tony Rojas (honorable mention), who was a first-year starter for the Lions. Rojas and fellow teammate Dominic DeLuca finished tied for second in interceptions among Big Ten linebackers in 2024. The duo each had a pick-six in the College Football Playoff win vs. SMU, with Rojas' going for 59 yards and DeLuca's going for 23 yards. With the pick-sixes by Rojas and DeLuca, Penn State was one of only two Power Four programs to have multiple linebackers record a pick-six in a single season. During the 2023 season, where Connor worked closely with the linebacker room, PSU put together one of its top defensive performances in school history, leading the country in sacks (49) and rushing defense (75.5), while fi

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS Deon Broomfield joins the Nittany Lions as their defensive backs coach following a five-year stint coaching safeties at Iowa State. Broomfield, who has 10 seasons coaching defensive backs at the collegiate level, spent a season as a defensive assistant with the Houston Texans in 2020. During the 2025, Broomfield tutored third-team All-Big 12 safety Markus Neal, who emerged as one of the best defensive backs in the Big 12 Conference, tying for the team lead with 77 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss, which lead all Big 12 defensive backs. Iowa State's 42 interceptions the last three seasons (2023-25) are tied for 11th-most nationally in that span. The Cyclone safeties were one of the nation's best collective units in 2024 with all three starters earning recognition from the Big 12 coaches, led by Malik Verdon being named an All-Big 12 second-team performer. Jeremiah Cooper and Beau Freyler were honorable mention selections. The group played a significant role in what amounted to the greatest single season in program history. Iowa State posted an 11-3 overall record, the first double-digit win season for the school, and reached the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship game for the second time. The defensive unit overcame multiple injuries and allowed just 22.9 points per game, holding opponents to fewer than 20 points in six games, which tied for the second-most games among Big 12 teams. The Cyclones were first nationally in passing defense, allowing just

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS Malloe spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons as UCLA’s defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach, after serving as the defensive line coach in 2023 and outside linebackers and special teams coordinator in 2022. In his first season as defensive coordinator at UCLA in 2024, Malloe was selected as a nominee for the Broyles Award, which honors the top assistant coach in college football. Despite losing seven starters, including six who graduated to the NFL ranks, headlined by first-rounder Laiatu Latu, UCLA graded out strong nationally in rushing defense (96.2 yards per game, 6th), fourth-down defense (38.5%, 12th), and total defense (340.8 yards per game, 40th). Linebacker and former walk-on Carson Schwesinger blossomed into a First-Team All-American and Butkus Award finalist under Malloe in 2024, leading the Big Ten and ranking third nationally with 136 total tackles in the regular season. Defensive tackle Jay Toia also had a standout campaign in 2024, earning All-Big Ten honorable mention accolades. In 2023, when Malloe was the defensive line coach, UCLA led the Pac-12 and ranked 10th in the nation in total defense (301.5 yards per game). In addition, the Bruins ranked second in the nation in rushing defense (80.8) and limited opponents to 18.4 points per game, which rated as the 14th-best mark in the country. UCLA led the nation after opponents scored just five rushing touchdowns on the season. The Bruins were second in the nation allowing just 2.6

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS Jake Waters joins the Nittany Lions as quarterbacks coach following six combined years on the Iowa State staff, including the last two seasons as quarterbacks coach. He returned to Iowa State as a senior quality control assistant for the Cyclone offense in 2021 after serving as a graduate assistant for the program in 2017. Waters tutored quarterback Rocco Becht in 2024 and 2025, who has started 39-straight games at quarterback for Iowa State, the longest active streak among Big 12 quarterbacks and fourth-longest in the nation among quarterbacks. Becht owns 26 career victories at Iowa State, the most by any active Big 12 quarterback and tied for the fourth-most among active FBS quarterbacks. The 2024 Cyclones recorded the greatest season in school history, reaching double-digit wins for the first time and finishing the season 11-3 overall and 7-2 in Big 12 Conference play. The Cyclones started 7-0, the best start in school history, and reached the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship game for the second time in 133 seasons. Offensively, the Cyclone offense averaged 31.3 points and 416.2 yards per game, both of which ranked in the top 10 in program history. No Cyclone team scored more offensive touchdowns than the 2024 team (52). Waters guided Becht to one of the best seasons by a signal-caller the program has ever seen, as he earned All-Big 12 honorable mention accolades after passing for 3,505 yards and 25 touchdowns, both of which ranked second in the scho

Interim Head Coach Terry Smith met with the media on Friday, December 26 during the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl Head Coaches Press Conference

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS Justin Lustig enters his second season as Penn State's special teams coordinator, outside linebackers and nickels coach. During his career, Lustig has mentored 56 all-conference selections, a Lou Groza Award recipient and a Ray Guy Award finalist. In year one with the Nittany Lions, Lustig tutored a trio of All-Big Ten recipients in long snapper Tyler Duzansky (third team), kicker Ryan Barker (honorable mention) and kick returner Nicholas Singleton (honorable mention). Barker took over kicking duties five games into the season and finished 15-for-18 on field goals, an 83.3 conversation rate which finished tied for fourth in a single season at Penn State. Lustig previously spent three seasons at Vanderbilt as the program's special teams coordinator, tight ends coach, associate head coach (2022-23) and assistant head coach (2021). After inheriting a special teams unit that ranked outside the top 100 in ESPN' Special Teams Efficiency ratings in 2020, Lustig helped propel the unit to 44th in 2022 and 41st in 2023. As a team in 2023, Vanderbilt was one of 20 programs in the country to block multiple punts and finished 11th nationally in net punting. The 2023 campaign saw a pair of All-SEC specialists in Matthew Hayball (first team) and Wesley Schelling (second team), marking the first time in school history Vanderbilt had multiple specialists earn All-SEC honors. Hayball became Vandy’s first All-SEC punter since 1996, as he posted the best career punting a

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS Kashif Moore joins the Nittany Lions following a three-year stint as the wide receivers coach at UConn. Moore’s three years in Storrs was highlighted by the development of Skyler Bell, who was a 2025 Biletnikoff Award finalist after finishing second in the country in receiving yardage (1,278), tied for third in receiving touchdowns (13) and fourth in receptions (101). Bell, UConn’s first-ever consensus All-American, finished 2025 tied for first nationally in 80+ yard receiving plays (2) and tied for fourth in 70+ receiving plays (3). In 2024, a pair of UConn wideouts pulled down 50-plus passes under Moore’s guidance. TJ Sheffield caught 54 passes for 505 yards while Bell grabbed 54 balls for 860 yards and 5 touchdowns to lead the team. Sheffield went on to sign a rookie contract with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans after the season. A former UConn player, Moore joined his alma mater after spending the 2022 season at Albany as the wide receivers coach. After completing his playing career at UConn, he began his coaching career at Conard High School under his former position coach at UConn, Matt Cersosimo, spending the 2019-20 seasons at the prep ranks. He would have one-year stops at Wesleyan University (2020) and Cornell University (2021) as the running backs coach. PLAYING CAREER A four-year letterwinner at UConn from 2008-11, Moore was elected team captain as a senior and graduated ranked in the top 10 in program history in receptions (126) while register

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS Ryan Clanton joins the Nittany Lions as the program’s offensive line coach after spending the previous three seasons at Iowa State in the same position. He added run game coordinator to his duties in 2024. In three seasons with the program, Clanton's work with the offensive line helped the Cyclones go from 108.0 rushing yards per game to 160.5 yards in 2024, and then another jump to 174.5 yards in 2025. The Cyclones allowed a combined 51 sacks during the 2023-25 seasons, the eighth-fewest among Power Four teams during that time. The Cyclones closed the 2025 season running for at least 150 yards in seven-straight games, the longest streak since doing so for eight-straight games from 2008-09. Carson Hansen (950) and Abu Sama III (732) became the first Cyclone pair to each have over 700 yards rushing in a season since Jim Wingender (1,070) and Mike Williams (781) in 1975. Offensive lineman Tyler Miller earned All-Big 12 third team honors, while Trevor Buhr and Jim Bonifas earned honorable mention honors. Clanton's offensive line unit helped the Cyclones rush for 25 touchdowns in 2024, the fourth-most in a single season at Iowa State, as the team posted one of the best seasons in program history. The team finished 11-3 overall, the first double-digit win season in school history, and went 7-2 in Big 12 play as it advanced to the conference championship game for the second time in 133 seasons. Jarrod Hufford capped his six-year career earning All-Big 12 ho

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS Huggins comes to Happy Valley following a four-year stint as running backs coach at Boston College. In 2025, sophomore Turbo Richard rushed for a career-best 749 yards and nine touchdowns while adding 30 receptions for 213 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games. Senior Jordan McDonald appeared in all 12 games for Huggins and the Eagles, totaling 397 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, and two touchdowns as a pass catcher. Under Huggins’ guidance, the Eagles offense rushed for 2,163 yards with a 4.1 yards per carry average and 24 rushing touchdowns in 2024, amassing 166 yards per game. In 2024, Kye Robichaux, who went on to play for the Detroit Lions, led the team in rushing yards with 744 while notching 10 touchdowns on the ground, the most by a BC running back since all-time leading rusher A.J. Dillon in 2019. Huggins also tutored running back Treshaun Ward in 2024, who rushed for 406 yards and added 288 receiving yards. Ward went on to play with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL. Jordan McDonald added 53 carries for 361 yards and three touchdowns, while true freshman Turbo Richard ran for 278 yards on 55 carries with two touchdowns. Robichaux ran for 198 yards and 2 TDs in the win over Syracuse, while McDonald had 133 yards with a score for BC against the Orange. In 2023, Eagles running backs rushed for 2,584 yards with a 4.71 yards per carry average, contributing to the second-ranked rushing attack in the ACC at 198.8 yards per game. Robichaux

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS Greg "Skip" Brabenec enters his first season as Penn State Football's chief of staff. Brabenec serves as the direct line of communication to the athletics administration and is in charge of all staff processes, including schedule, budget, team travel and daily schedules. He was also the main contact for all activities inside the Lasch Football Building. He spent 10 seasons (2016-25) at Iowa State, spending his first five years as director of football operations. He was promoted to Assistant AD for Football/Chief of Staff prior to the 2021 season. He was director of football operations on Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell’s staff at Toledo from 2014-15. Brabenec witnessed incredible improvement during his time in Ames. The Cyclones qualified for bowl games in eight of the 10 seasons, regularly appeared in the national rankings and totaled eight of ISU’s 10 above-.500 conference seasons in the history of the Big 12 Conference (1996-present) since 2017. In 2025, his final season at ISU, the Cyclones went 8-4 overall and 5-4 in Big 12 Conference action. Brabenec played a vital role in the planning of Iowa State's trip to the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland where the Cyclones defeated No. 17 Kansas State in college football's first game of the season. The Cyclones defeated Iowa for the third time in four seasons as it started the campaign 5-0 for the second time in as many seasons. The 2024 Cyclones recorded the greatest season in sc

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS Taylor Mouser joins the Nittany Lions as their offensive coordinator, previously spending the last 10 seasons on the Iowa State coaching staff under Matt Campbell. Mouser most recently served the last two years as offensive coordinator and also oversaw the tight end room for the last five seasons. He was named the 2025 Football Scoop Tight Ends Coach of the Year. Mouser has coached a number of All-Americans and All-Big 12 performers to unprecedented success working with the offense, including back Breece Hall, who led the nation in rushing in 2020, became the first unanimous All-American in school history, tight end Charlie Kolar, ISU’s only three-time All-American, and quarterback Brock Purdy, who graduated owning/sharing 32 school records. In recent years, Iowa State produced four of the most prolific offenses in Cyclone football history. Iowa State broke the school record for total offense (444.3) and had the third-best scoring offense (32.2) in school history in 2019, and followed it up with the second-best scoring offense (32.9) and third-best total offense (436.3) totals in Cyclone history in 2020. The Cyclones also set the following school records with Mouser aiding the offense: touchdowns (53; 2019), points (418; 2019), yards per play (6.45; 2019) and rushing touchdowns (31; 2020). The Cyclones closed the 2025 season rushing for at least 150 yards in seven-straight games, the longest streak since doing so for eight-straight games from 2008-09.

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS A standout wide receiver at Penn State, Terry M. Smith is in his 12th season in 2025 as the Nittany Lions’ defensive recruiting coordinator and cornerbacks coach, and his fifth as associate head coach. The No. 4-ranked recruiter in the Big Ten in 2023 by 247Sports, Smith has helped PSU secure 12-straight top-25 classes, including a top-5 class in 2018, a top-6 class in 2022 and top-15 classes in nine of the last 11 years. Smith has played a pivotal role developing seven Penn State cornerback draft picks since 2015, tied for first nationally. With new starting corners in 2024, Penn State ranked fourth in the FBS in interceptions, seventh in total defense (294.8), eighth in scoring defense (16.5), 10th in takeaways (26) and 13th in passes defended (72). In their first year with the program in 2024, cornerbacks A.J. Harris (third team) and Jalen Kimber (honorable mention) earned All-Big Ten honors. He led a cornerback room in 2023 which featured three All-Big Ten honorees in Kalen King (second team), Johnny Dixon (third team) and Daequan Hardy (third team), as Penn State finished second in the country in total defense and seventh in passing defense (172.1). Hardy (Bills) and King (Packers) were selected in the NFL Draft, marking the third-straight year PSU has had multiple defensive backs drafted. The Nittany Lions finished first nationally in 2022 with 85 pass breakups, and second in defensive pass efficiency and completion percentage. Smith tutored a p

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS Veidt joins the Nittany Lions following a two-year stint as the defensive coordinator at Cincinnati. During the 2025 campaign under Veidt, first-team All-Big 12 linebacker Jake Golday finished with 105 tackles while adding six tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and three pass breakups. He ranked among the conference and national leaders in tackles per game (8.8) and has eight games with double-digit stops. During Veidt’s first season running the defense for the Bearcats, defensive tackle Dontay Corleone was recognized as an All-American by Phil Steele and College Football Network and overcame a difficult offseason to become a disruptive force on the line, collecting 26 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. In his first collegiate season, linebacker Simeon Coleman received several freshman All-America accolades after logging 32 tackles, 4.5 TFL, and two QB hurries while registering 238 defensive snaps, more than any other true freshman linebacker in the Big 12. Fellow freshman Jiquan Sanks also enjoyed a successful rookie campaign under Veidt, tallying 42 tackles and making five starts in the secondary. Veidt also utilized new linebacker additions of Golday and Jared Bartlett, who both earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors. Golday was rated among the Top 10 linebackers in the country according to Pro Football Focus and Bartlett ranked among the conference leaders in sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (11.5) Prior to his arrival at Cincinnati, Veid