There’s nothing better for a defense than a shutout victory. For Penn State football, achieving that feeling took just one game. The Nittany Lions cruised to a 45-0 win over Marshall on Saturday.

Leading the charge was Caleb Bacon, a player who recently made the switch from linebacker to defensive end. Recording six total tackles, one sack, and three tackles-for-loss, Bacon’s first start as a Nittany Lion was one for the books.

Matt Campbell has continued to preach Bacon’s “multiplicity,” a trait of his that allows defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn to be creative with his scheme. Although Bacon has experience coming off the edge during his time at Iowa State, he was a bit surprised when the coaching staff informed him that the change would be official.

Despite the initial shock, Bacon was able to adapt quickly, working closely with the defensive line coaches to help him excel.

“All of them have really bought into trying to make me a better player, and I really appreciate them for doing that,” Bacon said. “[They] make me feel like family.”

Having the production he had against the Thundering Herd is a promising sign that Bacon will continue to produce at the highest level at his new position.

After making his presence known with a big hit in the first half, he continued to shine with third-down tackles and quarterback pressure as the game progressed.

Bacon will refuse to let an impressive game get to his head, noting that having an even keel is key to surviving the duration of a grueling football season. When the smoke of gameday settles, the redshirt senior cares about just one thing.

“You can’t let your highs get too high; you can’t let your lows get too low,” he said. “Not even thinking about the stat sheet at the end of the day. The only thing that matters to me is the win.”

While Bacon led the team in tackles for loss, his teammate and returning Penn State linebacker Tony Rojas topped the charts in total tackles. Although the two no longer practice in the same group, Rojas was not shocked in the slightest with how Bacon’s work ethic translated to his on-field performance.

“Just seeing how he approaches practice every day, the way he improves every day, and just delivers details, it wasn’t surprising to see how he played today,” Rojas said postgame.

The success of the defensive effort started with the ability to stop the run. Lynn’s squad surrendered just 44 yards on the ground. In the air, Marshall passed for 103 yards, a testament to an all-around strong performance and the impact a versatile roster can have on the outcome of a game.

Campbell was proud of his team’s ability to “key in” and be efficient, limiting Marshall’s ability to move the football on both fronts.

While the Penn State defense had a killer mindset on the field, players like Bacon still took the chance to savor the moment of their first start in Beaver Stadium.

For a player who came from humble beginnings in Lake Mills, Iowa, walked on to the Iowa State football program, and broke his leg in the season opener just two years ago, Bacon has worked hard for the opportunity to play in front of 108,000 people.

In fact, walking out of the tunnel for the first time gave him chills.

Bacon is having fun playing in this Penn State defense and in front of this fanbase, and so far, he has returned this program the favor.

“This guy’s earned the right to become a great player,” Campbell said. “He’s worked for everything he’s got. Nobody’s ever given him anything.”