DT
Junior
Utah transfer who appeared in Penn State's first four games of 2026 and recorded two tackles through Wisconsin. His earlier five Utah starts provide background; Penn State game use supports a rotation role, not an automatic starter label.
Dallas Vakalahi is a junior defensive tackle on Penn State's 2026 roster after transferring from Utah. Penn State lists him at 6-foot-2 and 326 pounds; the size is relevant to the interior rotation, but his college game record is the firmer evidence for his role.
At Utah, Vakalahi played nine games with two starts and 11 tackles in 2025. The year before, he played nine games with three starts, 16 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Those are Utah statistics and should not be mistaken for Penn State production.
Penn State's player bio lists four appearances and two tackles through the first four games of 2026. That confirms he has entered the defensive tackle rotation, even though the available sample does not establish him as an every-down anchor. His value is a combination of prior starting experience and a large interior frame as the staff sorts its run-defense packages.
Sources checked October 7, 2026