Previewing the 2026 season for Penn State DE Dayshaun Burnett

Penn State football will have a completely overhauled roster to get to know in 2026 under new head coach Matt Campbell. Following one of the most active offseasons in recent memory for Penn State with a flurry of activity in the transfer portal, fans will have a lot of catching up to do in getting to know this year's Penn State roster. Fortunately, not every face will be brand new to fans. Regardless, we will be here to give you a fresh overview of every player on the roster for the 2026 season with a series of player profiles.

From all of the returning players, a long list of new faces from the transfer portal, and incoming recruits from the Class of 2026, we will have you covered with this year's player profiles for the Penn State roster. Here is a quick look at defensive end Dayshaun Burnett for the 2026 season.

Preseason Player Profile

• Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Height: 6-3
• Weight: 233
• Class in 2026: Redshirt freshman

Recruiting Rankings

Class of 2025: Consensus 4-star recruit, No. 37 edge and No. 9 Pennsylvania native per 247Sports

Dayshaun Burnett had a number of offers to consider, including from Michigan, Pitt, West Virginia, and others, before ultimately deciding to commit to Penn State in the Class of 2025.

Career Stats

Dayshaun Burnett did not appear in any games during the 2025 season. The 2025 season was used as a redshirt season for the newcomer a year ago.

Depth Chart Overview

Dayshaun Burnett is likely a player to be buried on the defensive depth chart, but he could get some playing time on special teams as a way of getting some on-field experience this season. The defensive end positions should be led by a healthy Max Granville and players like Alexander McPherson, Ike Ezeogu and Yvan Kemajou.