Defense was a focus of the 2019 Penn State football recruiting class, as head coach James Franklin zeroed in on some of the top defensive players available. He landed a commitment from Brandon Smith, one of the best linebackers available, and followed that up by locking down one of the top defensive linemen.
Defense end Adisa Isaac waited until the start of the early signing period to announce his college choice. He held offers from Miami, Alabama, Texas A&M, Florida, and LSU, among others. Despite making a visit to Miami in late November, and receiving a visit from Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher just days before the signing period opened, Isaac chose to become a member of the Nittany Lions.