Penn State’s Caleb Bacon switches to edge rusher

Penn State linebacker Caleb Bacon is switching to edge rusher during fall camp, a move designed to give the Nittany Lions more defensive flexibility.

The roster shuffle comes after Bacon spent two seasons as a traditional off-ball linebacker, racking up 51 tackles and 2.5 sacks in that role. With Penn State facing a schedule heavy on pass-heavy offenses, defensive coordinator Manny Diaz wants players who can rush the passer without substituting. Bacon’s 6-foot-3, 240-pound frame and 4.6-second speed in the 40-yard dash make him a natural fit for the edge spot, where he can use his length to set the edge against the run and his burst to beat offensive tackles off the snap.

The decision follows a string of injuries to the Lions’ edge corps, including a season-ending Achilles tear suffered by defensive end Adisa Isaac in spring practice. Bacon’s move helps fill that void while allowing younger players like defensive end Chop Robinson to develop behind him. Penn State’s defense ranked 47th nationally in sacks last season, and Diaz has promised to prioritize getting after the quarterback in 2024.

Bacon will face competition this month from redshirt freshman linebacker Tyler Bandy and walk-on defensive end Hunter Nields for the starting edge job. If he wins the spot, he could become a key piece of a rotation that also includes Robinson and veteran defensive end Mohamed Fofanah. The reshuffling underscores Penn State’s effort to adapt to a league where spread offenses and mobile quarterbacks are becoming the norm. The Nittany Lions open the season September 2 against West Virginia.