It’s no secret that Matt Campbell was not Penn State’s first choice. Athletic director Pat Kraft made the rounds on the coaching carousel and nearly closed the deal with BYU’s Kalani Sitake before finally landing on Campbell.Â
That drawn-out process delayed Campbell’s arrival in Happy Valley beyond the Early Signing Period, so Penn State finished signing day with just two signees, four-star edge rusher Jackson Ford and four-star QB Peyton Falzone.Â
Campbell was able to rally and assemble a respectable class, convincing 13 Iowa State signees to flip to Penn State for a 15-player class. Still, the real roster building before Campbell and general manager Derek Hoodjer was done in the transfer portal, with 39 incoming veterans.Â
Because of the delay and the general caliber of an Iowa State commit compared to a typical incoming Nittany Lion, Penn State’s 2026 class isn’t expected to have a major bearing on the outcome of games this year. However, two players may see the field in more than just garbage time, especially now that the redshirts are gone with the advent of the five-in-five eligibility rule.Â
Campbell will also have a couple of redshirt freshmen who contribute to his year’s team. So, while redshirt freshmen still exist, let’s take a look at the four freshmen who should and likely will play meaningful snaps for this team.Â
4. Amarion Jackson
A three-star from Omaha, Nebraska, Amarion Jackson began to stand out in the spring, and by all accounts, he’s continued that momentum into fall camp.Â
Penn State desperately needed an influx of talent at wide receiver, and most assumed it would come in the short-term from veteran Iowa State transfers Brett Eskildsen and Chase Sowell. However, it now appears that Amarion Jackson is going to be a long-term piece in the Penn State WR room and a contributor from Day 1 in Happy Valley.Â
3. Jackson Ford
Jackson Ford was sold on Penn State. He was the first to put pen to paper on signing day when the program still did not have a head coach in place. And it seems Campbell was lucky to inherit him after a strong start to fall camp.
Ford has great size on the edge, and according to reports out of practice in Happy Valley this month, he looks ready to play right now. Penn State is already breaking in two younger edges, with Max Granville coming off an injury and Yvan Kemajou back for his sophomore season. Caleb Bacon has also worked at defensive end, so the room is getting more crowded with Ikenna Ezeogu and Alexander McPherson both in the mix for snaps.Â
Still, if Ford has caught so many eyes, he should get some passing-down work to see what he’s got when he can pin his ears back and get after the quarterback.Â
2. Zay Robinson
The emergence of two freshman wide receivers, Jackson and Zay Robinson, could be taken one of two ways. The young guys are great, and Campbell’s staff is excellent at finding diamonds in the rough at the position. Or, the room was so thin that anybody can stand out. Reality probably lies somewhere in the grey area between, but regardless, Robinson will also be factoring into the passing game.Â
Penn State may not run much 11-personnel with its bevy of tight ends to get onto the field, but when it does, Robinson and Koby Howard may split time in the slot depending on the situation - Robinson for more underneath quick-game work, and Howard to help stretch the field vertically.Â
1. Malachi Goodman
Jackson, Ford, and Robinson will all factor into a rotation in some form or another, if they do see the field at all. Malachi Goodman is set to potentially play every snap at left tackle. And if he doesn’t emerge victorious from a three-man battle for the final starting spot along the offensive line, it could be fellow redshirt freshman Owen Aliciene. Redshirt sophomore Garrett Sexton is also in the mix.Â
Goodman was the top recruit in the 2025 class and seemingly never considered a departure this offseason. Now, it seems likely that loyalty will pay off with a starting job protecting Rocco Becht’s blindside in 2026.
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