When Matt Campbell arrived in Happy Valley as the head coach of Penn State, it became clear almost immediately that he wasn’t arriving empty-handed. Of the 39 incoming transfers that joined him in Happy Valley this offseason, 24 were former Iowa State Cyclones.
That group included Campbell’s three-year starting QB, Rocco Becht, who came on board for his final year of eligibility, along with his top five pass-catchers from last season: wide receivers Chase Sowell and Brett Eskildsen, running back Carson Hansen, and tight ends Benjamin Brahmer and Gabe Burkle.
Nationally, Brahmer made the biggest stir. A former freshman All-American in 2023 and an All-Big 12 second-team selection in 2025, Brahmer was one of the top tight ends on the transfer market this offseason.
But will he be the next great tight end at Penn State? That’s the big question for a program that produced Mike Gesicki, Pat Freiermuth, Theo Johnson, Brenton Strange, and Tyler Warren under James Franklin.
So, as fall camp approaches, I took a chance to dive into the tape and see what the Nittany Lions are really getting in the 6-foot-7 Nebraska native, and what he needs to do to take his game to the next level in the Big Ten.
Benjamin Brahmer scouting report
Profile:
- Eligibility left: 2 year (SR)
- Height: 6’7”
- Weight: 250 lbs
- Previous school: Iowa State
- 2025 production: 37 rec, 446 yards, 12.1 yards/rec, 6 TD
Strengths:
Elite red zone target - It takes more than being a big-body to be a quality red zone threat. Brahmer checks the boxes for height and weight, and he’s a smooth athlete who can adjust to the football and is light enough on his feet to create separation in a confined space.
Playmaker mentality with the ball in his hands - Some tight ends will make a catch and turn into Mr. Incredible in that scene where all those sticky inflatable balls get shot at him. They run forward, taking as much of a beating as they can until they finally go down. Brahmer is different. He tries to make guys miss, and actually has the agility to pull it off. He’s not an elite YAC player, but he has the mentality. He also threw a touchdown on a trick play last year, so you know he’s comfortable with the ball in his hands.
Good enough hands he doesn’t always need both - Brahmer had two drops on 51 targets last season, which is a fine number. He also had enough ridiculous one-handed catches to make up for those missed opportunities.
Weaknesses:
Not there as a blocker yet - Brahmer gives effort in the blocking game. He goes to find work where he can. He isn’t developed enough to make an impact in the run game. That’s why, despite being the most fluid and natural pass-catcher among Iowa State’s bevy of tight ends, he wasn’t an every-down player.
The jump ball potential is yet to be realized - There aren’t many players who are as smooth as Brahmer at 6-foot-7, 250 pounds. Yet, the junior tight end went just 3-for-7 on contested catch opportunities (per PFF). Nobody on Iowa State had more than 12 contested targets last season, so it may have been a Rocco Becht preference, but Brahmer still failed to bring in half of his.
Ben Brahmer needs a well-rounded TE room to complement his skill set
As a red zone threat, there may not be a better tight end in college football than Brahmer. However, there’s a reason that the tight end room didn’t exactly clear out in Happy Valley with the news that he was on the way. First, there’s the growing trend of 12 (1 RB, 2 TEs) and 13 (1 RB, 3 TEs) personnel in college football.
12 personnel usage is up over seven percent from 10 years ago in 2016. It peaked at 24 percent in 2024, but stayed near that level last season. Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser and Iowa State were a huge part of that. The Cyclones routinely used multiple tight ends, not just to gain an advantage with more big bodies, but to supplement Brahmer’s weaknesses as a blocker.
As the lone tight end, Brahmer is more useful split out in the slot, which he’ll do quite a bit for Penn State with Gabe Burkle, another former Cyclone, and Andrew Rappleyea, who stayed through the transition from James Franklin to Campbell, used more in-line.
Unless Brahmer can take a real step as a blocker, which would be unlikely for a player with such a wiry frame even at 250 pounds, all three will play, and that will get the best out of Brahmer. A few more contested catch opportunities wouldn’t hurt either.
At this point, however, he’s more of a specialist than the clear heir to the TEU throne.
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