A Resilient Return
Caleb Bacon began his college football journey as a walk‑on at Iowa State in 2021, a path forced by the lack of scholarship offers during his high school recruitment.
During the 2023 season he emerged as a standout, recording 60 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, signaling a breakout year for the young linebacker.
The following season, Bacon suffered a left‑leg injury in the opening game against North Dakota, an injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the campaign.
He returned in 2025, posting 68 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble, demonstrating that his previous form had not been lost to the injury.
Seeking a final season of eligibility, Bacon transferred to Penn State, joining the program under the guidance of head coach Matt Campbell and defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn.
At Penn State he is slated to start at linebacker in D’Anton Lynn’s defense, while also being utilized as an edge rusher, providing much‑needed depth after Tony Rojas’s injury left the group thin last season.
Bacon will wear the number 10 jersey this year, a symbolic nod to his perseverance and growth.
The Nittany Lions open their season against Marshall in just ten days, a matchup that will test the new‑look defense and Bacon’s readiness for a starting role.