UNIVERSITY PARK, PA — From Lake Mills to Ames and now Happy Valley, former Northern Iowa prep standout Caleb Bacon continues to make his mark on college football.
Bacon, a Lake Mills native and former Lake Mills High School star who spent four seasons playing for the Iowa State Cyclones, was named Big Ten Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Week following a dominant performance in Penn State’s 45-0 victory over Marshall.
The redshirt senior defensive end recorded six tackles — all in the first half — along with three tackles for loss and a solo sack.
Bacon (pictured at top as a Cyclone) also delivered solo tackles for loss on back-to-back plays as Penn State’s defense overwhelmed Marshall.
From Lake Mills walk-on to major college standout
For Bacon, the latest honor adds another chapter to a college career that began with considerably less fanfare.
The 6-foot-4 Lake Mills product arrived at Iowa State as a walk-on after a decorated prep career in Northern Iowa.
As a Lake Mills senior, Bacon was a first-team Class A all-state selection and led the classification with 103 tackles, including 90 solo stops. He was also a two-time district player of the year.
He eventually earned a scholarship at Iowa State and developed into one of the Cyclones’ most productive defenders.
NIT followed Bacon’s rise in 2023 when he was named to the Lombardi Award Midseason Watch List after emerging as a major contributor for the Cyclones.
Bacon recorded 60 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks during that season.
His momentum was interrupted in 2024 when he suffered a season-ending injury in Iowa State’s opener against North Dakota.
Bacon bounced back in 2025, starting all 12 games for Iowa State and serving as a team captain.
He finished the season with 68 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble and three pass breakups while earning honorable mention All-Big 12 recognition.
Conference honors follow Bacon from Big 12 to Big Ten
Bacon closed his Iowa State career with another major honor.
He recorded seven tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble in Iowa State’s victory over Oklahoma State and was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. NIT reported on Bacon’s Big 12 honor here.
After the season, Bacon transferred to Penn State, where former Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell had taken over the Nittany Lions program. NIT reported on Campbell’s move from Iowa State to Penn State here.
Now playing defensive end, Bacon wasted little time making an impact in his first season wearing Penn State colors.
His six-tackle performance helped the Nittany Lions shut out Marshall 45-0, with Bacon tying his career high with three tackles for loss.
The Lake Mills native has now earned weekly defensive honors in two major conferences in consecutive seasons — Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week at Iowa State and Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week at Penn State.
For a player who began his college career as a walk-on from a small Northern Iowa school, the latest honor represents another milestone in a steady climb from Lake Mills football to the national college stage.