Despite starting 0-4 in Big Ten play, Matt Campbell has staunchly defended Rocco Becht, the most experienced starting quarterback in college football, who has thrown five interceptions to three touchdowns in conference games this year. Becht’s three turnovers in the second half against Michigan led directly to all 21 of the Wolverines points, so if that isn’t enough for Campbell to consider benching Becht, what will?
The point isn’t even that Becht doesn’t give Penn State the best chance to win. It’s that for a team that’s 3-4 and has a quarterback in his final year of eligibility, winning is irrelevant. The goal should be to evaluate redshirt freshman backup QB Alex Manske, who is likely to be handed the reins of the program this offseason.
If Campbell refuses to give Manske a look or if he does and Manske struggles, then it’s either blind faith or a trip into the transfer portal to find next year’s starter. Judging from Campbell’s first 11 months in Happy Valley, he’ll probably choose blind faith, but down the stretch, his staff should be keeping their eyes on a few potential transfer QB options, either to come in as the starter or to challenge Manske for the job.
And maybe, by not playing Manske, Campbell is telling the fanbase something they're not ready to hear.
The Group of Six up transfers
8. Ajani Sheppard, Temple, eligibility remaining: 1 year
Penn State transfer Jaxon Smolik started against the Nittany Lions in Week 2, but Ajani Sheppard saw a bit of playing time in the second half and eventually took over the starting job full-time. He probably doesn’t have the accuracy to be a Power 4 starting quarterback, but he’s No. 10 in the country in EPA/dropback and has legitimate dual-threat ability.
Part of that efficiency is due to the run-heavy offense Temple deploys, but he’s able to operate it well. Sheppard would be an intriguing piece to add to the QB room as competition for Manske or an insurance policy against his expected development.
7. Hauss Hejny, Colorado State, eligibility remaining: 2 years
Hauss Hejny has missed most of his first season at Colorado State battling injury, but when he’s played, he’s looked like one of the best G6 quarterbacks in the country, if not the best. A former blue-chip recruit who committed to TCU and spent 2025 at Oklahoma State, Hejny has plenty of utility as a runner, but that athleticism is best served helping him buy time to attack downfield with a live arm.
Hejny can make the difficult opposite hash throws you want from a Power 4 QB, but he’s also consistently accurate on the myriad of screens and swings that he’s asked to throw at Colorado State. If he puts more good film out there when he returns from injury, he’s going to have multiple offers to return to the P4 level.
6. Braden Atkinson, Oregon State, eligibility remaining: 3 years
Mercer transfer Braden Atkinson and three-star freshman wide receiver Jesse Legree have been torched everyone in the Pac-12 this year, leading one of the most prolific offenses in college football. However, the Beavers have also played P4 competition in Houston and Texas Tech, and Atkinson didn’t look overwhelmed either time.
If you want to critique the physical tools, you’re not alone; there’s a reason he began his career at Mercer, but he gets the ball out quickly, he’s accurate, and he doesn’t take many sacks. If he comes with Legree, that’s even better, but even on his own merit, Atkinson will likely get a chance to transfer up again.
The promising backup
5. Austin Mack, Alabama, eligibility remaining: 1 year
Austin Mack followed Kalen DeBoer from Washington to Alabama and has yet to make a start in his collegiate career as he’s sat behind Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson, and Keelon Russell. Mack lost a battle to Russell this offseason, but there are probably only three quarterbacks in the entire country who wouldn’t have, and that might be an overestimate.
Mack has good size at 6-foot-6, 237 pounds, was a former top recruit, and because he reclassified, is still somehow only 20 years old. Lincoln Kienholz and Kenny Minchey are both thriving as starters this season after losing battles to Julian Sayin and CJ Carr heading into the 2025 season. Maybe Mack is the next one on that list.
The reclamation projects
4. CJ Bailey, NC State, eligibility remaining: 2 years
CJ Bailey isn’t a high-level processor at the quarterback position, and his fumble in the end zone to lose to Vanderbilt this year is a memory he’ll never outrun. Still, he’s got a good frame at 6-foot-6 with a strong enough arm to push the ball downfield, and when he’s in rhythm, he can look like an NFL prospect.
Bailey would probably give Penn State fans Drew Allar flashbacks, but as a one-year flyer, Penn State could do worse.
3. DJ Lagway, Baylor, eligibility remaining: 2 years
DJ Lagway transferring to Baylor was supposed to be the former five-star’s reclamation year after a two-season stint at Florida. However, after a loss to TCU, head coach Dave Aranda is on one of the hottest seats in the country, and if he’s fired, it could spring Lagway, who has unlimited arm talent and who has made fewer mistakes this season.
Lagway’s father Derek, was a running back at Baylor, so Waco could be his forever home, but things change fast, and there won’t be many QBs, or any, with Lagway’s talent in Penn State’s expected price range.
The home run swings
2. Malik Washington, Maryland, eligibility remaining: 3 years
Washington was one of the most impressive true freshmen in the country in 2025, despite a wide receiver group that finished near the top of the country in drops. Then, somehow, his situation at Maryland materially depreciated in 2026.
Washington’s numbers don’t look great, but the talent is undeniable, and outside of College Park, he’ll have a much better chance to succeed.
1. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, Cal, eligibility remaining: 3 years
Tosh Lupoi’s first objective when he took over at Cal was to keep Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. He flew to Hawaii to make it happen. Then, he saddled his prized QB with an offensive coordinator who had quite literally never called plays, even at the high school level.
Like Maryland with Washington, Cal has failed JKS, but unlike Maryland, Cal likely won’t be firing its head coach, so JKS will be tougher to pry out of Berkley. Still, for the good of the sport, somebody has to do it. It’d be a huge swing for Campbell to make and an unconventional fit heading cross country, so it’s a long shot at the very best, but JKS is still a name to monitor.
Mississippi State’s Kamario Taylor and Pitt’s Mason Heintschel may also belong in this category as potential transfers with good film and even more upside, but it would be an absolute shock to see Penn State legitimately target anyone from this group, maybe outside of Washington.
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