Penn State didn’t just need to hire a head coach this offseason, with so many veterans leaving a 2025 roster that was built to win the national championship, athletic director Pat Kraft also needed someone who could bring a roster with him to Happy Valley.
While Matt Campbell may not build the Penn State Cyclones for 2025, the former Iowa State head coach has plenty of interesting pieces that he should bring with him from Ames, especially considering how easy the Nittany Lions’ schedule shapes up to be in his first year at the helm.
Campbell is a developmental coach and a program builder, so with an eight-year contract, he can take the long view. Still, it would be nice if he could find immediate success, and in modern college football, that often comes through the transfer portal. So, here are three players who starred on his 8-4 Cyclones in 2025, whom he should attempt to transport to his new program.
The East Carolina transfer was billed as the WR1 replacement for Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, who both became Day 2 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, it took him a bit to onboard into the Iowa State offense. Once he did get up to speed, though, he showcased his game-breaking speed, averaging 15.7 yards per reception with six catches on throws over 20 yards downfield for 193 yards and a touchdown.
Penn State has failed to develop receivers for years. While that’s something Campbell and his staff can rectify over the long term with development, it could be worthwhile to bring Sowell to Penn State to add immediate pop in the passing game.
The 5-foot-11, 200-pound redshirt junior was looking like a lockdown cornerback before a season-ending injury kept him sidelined for the Cyclones’ final seven games. Through the first five games of the season, though, Williams allowed eight catches on 15 targets in coverage for only 34 yards. Arizona’s Noah Fifita tested him the most in Week 5, targeting him eight times, and he surrendered just three catches for 21 yards. Crucially, he’s an excellent tackler, not missing a tackle all season and only allowing nine yards after the catch.
Penn State has some depth at cornerback, especially with young players like Daryus Dixson and Jahmir Joseph, two 2025 four-stars, but you can never have too much depth in the secondary.
In a secondary that was ravaged by injuries in 2025, Marcus Neal emerged as a star for the Cyclones. He led the team with 77 total tackles, adding a sack, three pass breakups, two interceptions, and a forced fumble.
He was the heart of Iowa State’s defense, and will be an impact player for at least another season before he is eligible for the NFL Draft. It’s hard to project how he’ll fit before we know how Penn State plans to integrate Jon Heacock’s scheme and if Jim Knowles is staying in Happy Valley, but every scheme and coordinator has use for a great young safety.
Matt Campbell and his staff have an impressive track record of developing quarterbacks, so they could see a talented redshirt freshman like Ethan Grunkemeyer, with meaningful starting experience after his six-game run to end the year, and decide against taking a transfer portal QB or bringing Rocco Becht from Iowa State.
However, Penn State has an absurdly easy 2026 schedule, and Campbell should view that as an opportunity to hit the ground running. The easiest way to do that, especially if he imports his offensive coordinator, Taylor Mouser, and their pro-style passing game to Happy Valley, is to bring Becht for his final year of eligibility as well.
A three-year starter at Iowa State, Becht’s numbers tailed off this season following the departures of wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel to the NFL, but he still managed to throw for 2,584 yards and 16 touchdowns. Though, he did have nine interceptions. He’s far from perfect, but he’s a gamer with plus mobility, which makes him effective in late-down situations, and stability at quarterback would help to ease the transition for Campbell.