Penn State winter roster update: Which players gained, lost weight on defense?

The Penn State football program released its latest roster update of 2024 on Thursday. Numerous players changed positions, including one star on defense. There was notable news about Lions’ latest arrivals, while position clarity came into focus for both spring enrollees and returners. Beyond all of that, many players lost or gained weight between the last update — the 2023 season for returners and January for the mid-year arrivals — and the most recent one. How did things change on defense?

We have a positon-by-positon breakdown below with links to the aforementioned topics, and also a position-by-position look at the offense, at the bottom of this piece.

Penn State defensive ends

Notes: The most obvious thing that stands out here is Abdul Carter now being listed with this position group. How new defensive coordinator Tom Allen deploys him will be the talk of the town between now and the program’s spring news conference. It’s also worth pointing out that expected starter Dani Dennis-Sutton is now the best second-biggest defensive end on the roster.

Abdul Carter – Up one pound from 249 to 250

Amin Vanover – Down six pounds from 268 to 262

Jameial Lyons – Up six pounds from 246 to 252

Dani Dennis-Sutton – Up nine pounds from 261 to 270

Zuriah Fisher – Up eight pounds from 254 to 262

Mason Robinson -Down five pounds from 248 to 243

Jaylen Harvey – Up 16 pounds from 250 to 266

Joey Palko – Up seven pounds from 231 to 238

Joseph Mupoyi – Up 12 pounds from 246 to 258

Smith Vilbert – Up six pounds from 278 to 284

Bobby Mears – Up 21 pounds from 227 to 248

Jordan Mayer – Down two pounds from 230 to 228

Nittany Lion defensive tackles

Notes: Hakeem Beamon has long ping-ponged round from a weight perspective, which makes his 10-pound drop from 290 pounds to 280 worth highlighting. There is a lot of excitement around newcomer Liam Andrews, but his being at 266 is another sign that he has work to do throughout winter workouts, which made his early arrival key. We’ll also point out that Alonzo Ford Jr., adding 10 pounds would seemingly signal that he’s healthy and able to compete this spring.

Davon Townley – Up four pounds from 277 to 281

Zane Durant – Up three pounds from 285 to 288

Ty Blanding – Up eight pounds from 274 to 282

Alonzo Ford Jr. – Up 10 pounds from 298 to 308

Hakeem Beamon – Down 10 pounds from 290 to 280

Jordan van den Berg – Down three pounds from 310 to 307

Xavier Gilliam – Up 14 pounds from 280 to 294

Kaleb Artis – Down two pounds from 319 to 317

Sam Siafa – Up seven pounds from 277 to 284

Liam Andrews – Up six pounds from 260 to 266

D’Von Ellies – Up four pounds from 298 to 302

De’Andre Cook – Down one pound from 270 to 269

T.A. Cunningham – Down 33 pounds from 285 to 252

Coziah Izzard –  Up seven pounds from 295 to 302

Lions linebackers

Notes: Tyrece Mills is back with the linebackers now as he continues to find a home on the defense. Ta’Mere Robinson added some weight with hopes of coming out of spring in line for box linebacker playing time this fall. Kobe King also bulked up as he looks to keep a strangle hold on most of the reps at middle linebacker.

Dominic DeLuca – Up two pounds from 218 to 220

Tony Rojas – No change (225 pounds).

Tyrece Mills – Up six pounds from 198 to 204 (and now officially back at linebacker) 

Ta’Mere Robinson – Up four pounds from 222 to 226

Kari Jackson – Up six pounds from 220 to 226

Keon Wylie – Up two pounds from 218 to 220

Beckham Dee – Up nine pounds from 215 to 224

Winston Yates – Up 18 pounds from 205 to 223

Kobe King – Up eight pounds from 242 to 250

Tyler Elsdon – Down two pounds from 229 to 227

Jackson Pryts – Up two pounds from 204 to 206

Kaveion Keys – Up one pound from 225 to 226

Ben Chizmar – Down nine pounds from 233 to 224

Penn State cornerbacks

Notes: A ton of movement does not usually happen within this position group. Antoine Belgrave-Shorter packing on eight pound since arriving stands out, though. The same goes for second-year Nittany Lion Audavion Collins.

Jalen Kimber – No change (185 pounds)

AJ Harris – Up two pounds from 188 to 190

Cam Miller – No change (183 pounds)

Jon Mitchell – Up two pounds from 180 to 182

Zion Tracy – Up three pounds from 183 to 183

Elliot Washington II – Up one pound from 192 to 193

Antoine Belgrave-Shorter – Up nine pounds from 185 to 194

Lamont Payne Jr. – No change (185 pounds)

Audavion Collins – Up seven pounds from 172 to 197

Kolin Dinkins – Up three pounds from 184 to 187

Lions safeties

Notes: Jaylen Reed put on a few pounds as he looks to take another step forward as a starter in 2024. Vaboue Toure led the newcomers at the positon by gaining nine pounds between updates.

Jaylen Reed – Up five pounds from 205 to 210

Zakee Wheatley – Down two pounds from 198 to 196

DaKaari Nelson – Up three pounds from 220 to 223

King Mack – Down one pound from 188 to 187

Vaboue Toure -Up nine pounds from 200 to 209

KJ Winston – Up three pounds from 203 to 206

Lamont Payne Jr. – Down three pounds from 188 to 185

Jashaun Green – Down two pounds from 173 to 171

Patrick Williams – No change (198 pounds)

More Penn State roster updates

–Penn State star linebacker Abdul Carter in line for position change

–Examining Penn State’s January additions on the newest roster update

–Penn State football positional clarity established with roster update

–Penn State roster weight changes: OFFENSE | DEFENSE