Year after year cornerbacks coach Terry Smith has continued to churn out elite talent, and the room he has for the 2025 season might be the deepest he has ever had.
From the unit a season ago, Jalen Kimber’s in the NFL with Tennessee Titans while Cam Miller transferred to Rutgers, but the Nittany Lions return a quartet of guys that were impact players and will do the same this year. Additionally, a few names on the younger side have emerged to potentially see time.
“Terry Smith has built an awesome culture in that room,” defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said at local media day. “Those guys are playmakers, so I’m going to set things up for them to make plays. I saw it in the spring. I’ve seen it already in two days — they are a strength of our defense.”
Here’s how the cornerback room stacks up in 2025.
The returners
Penn State brought back four contributors from a season ago, starting with A.J. Harris. Harris is entering Year 2 with the program after he transferred from Georgia following his freshman year in Athens. He’s been nominated for a trio of preseason watch lists in the Lott IMPACT Trophy, Narguski Trophy and the Bendnarik Award.
Cornerback A.J. Harris (4) celebrates an incomplete pass during the College Football Playoff semifinal game between Penn State and Notre Dame at the Orange Bowl on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2024 in Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Fla. The Fighting Irish beat the Nittany Lions 27-24 to advance to the national championship.
The Nittany Lions have never had a cornerback go in the first round of the NFL Draft, but there’s a growing feeling Harris could become the first. Earlier in the offseason, he was mocked by ESPN to go No. 25 overall to the Washington Commanders.
“I feel like I didn’t really get to showcase my full potential (last year), because I didn’t have that many balls going my way,” Harris said at local media day. “So ball production will be very big for me this year. To me, it was a good year, but could have been better. I expect to take that big step this year.”
Right behind him is Elliot Washington II, who entered fall camp coming off an impressive spring, which came right after he won all six “Competitor of the Day” recognitions for the cornerback room during winter workouts.
“As a player, I’m developing way more than my sophomore year,” Washington said in April. “I would say for sure, learning the playbook — I know how to study now. So it’s more me just translating it on the field and showing my abilities.”
Last year Audavion Collins was the offseason winner, as not only did Smith say he was the biggest riser during the spring, but James Franklin referred to him as the player in the program that people weren’t talking about enough.
Cornerback Audavion Collins (29) brings down the ball carrier during the College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl between Penn State and Boise State on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The Nittany Lions beat the Broncos 31-14.
He came alive toward the end of last year, but regardless of who starts between him and Washington, Smith made it clear the tandem will be playing the same amount of snaps.
“We expect him to take another step this year and factor in, whether it’s as a starter or in the rotation, but he’s been a really good pickup for us,” Franklin said in April. “Positive guy, always got a smile on his face, always got great energy, really good with his teammates as well as the coaches. He’s fun to be around. He’s fun to coach. I’m a huge fan.”
Rounding out the returners is Zion Tracy, who was banged up during spring ball, but came away with a pair of big interceptions a season ago against Ohio State and Boise State. He has a strong shot to start at the nickel.
Tracy was asked if he felt it was the best room in the country, which he immediately answered with an immediate “yes, it’s the best DB room.”
“The athletes we got, all the connections we got with each other, the bonds we have with each other — I feel like that’s gonna make us top in the nation,” Tracy said.
Pair of youngsters
Daryus Dixson got to campus as an early enrollee in January, but the way he carried himself made it clear he’s more than just your typical run-of-the-mill freshman as Smith said he’s “dialed in a different way.”
Rated as a 4-star via the 247Sports composite rankings, Dixson’s coming off a senior year where he was a MaxPreps All-American. During the Blue-White Game, he laid a hit on wide receiver Josiah Brown that knocked his helmet off.
Cornerback Daryus Dixson (5) blocks during the 2025 Blue-White Game at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, April 26, 2025 in University Park, Pa. The White team beat the Blue team 10-8.
“He’s a strong corner. He’s a freshman,” Harris said at local media day. “He has a lot of God-given ability, and I believe he’ll be the next great one. I could see it already.”
Another young guy that has carved out some buzz is redshirt freshman Kenny Woseley Jr., who notably recovered a fumble during the spring game.
He’s seen work at the nickel, and is a little deeper on the depth chart, but if anything were to happen to guys ahead of him the staff is more than comfortable getting him out on the field if needed.
The rest
In addition to Dixson, the Nittany Lions brought in 4-star Jahmir Joseph, 3-star Xxavier Thomas and 3-star Joshua Johnson in their 2025 recruiting class.
The rest of the room is rounded out by Tyler Armstead and converted wide receiver Donte Nastasi.
MORE FOOTBALL COVERAGE
While James Franklin’s busy in Happy Valley preparing for a season with high expectations, b…