Penn State football kicked off fall camp on Wednesday. The list of injuries that started during the 2025 season and followed Matt Campbell into his first spring season and summer workouts as the Nittany Lions' new head coach is finally trimming down.
Positive injury reports and recovery timelines were provided at Big Ten Media Days, but actually seeing the players out on the field is what makes it feel real.
Two returning Penn Staters, linebacker Tony Rojas and tight end Andrew Rappleyea, were on that list. Both were on the list of those Campbell said were ready to start camp, and that came to fruition with their full participation on Wednesday.
Was good to see Rojas (13) & Rapp (87) back at full go on the first day of Penn State football's training camp. See our full coverage of Practice No. 1 at https://t.co/aAjrCQX2ip. pic.twitter.com/bVUU8DpCQl
— Mark Brennan (@MarkXBrennan) August 5, 2026
Penn State linebacker Tony Rojas and tight end Andrew Rappleyea practiced in full at fall camp
Rojas tore is ACL during Week 5 of the 2025 season vs. Oregon. During the week leading into the Nittany Lions' battle at UCLA, it was confirmed that he was out for the remainder of the season. At the time, it was an undisclosed injury. About a month later, though, Rojas shared an injury update via social media that showed his left leg wrapped up almost entirely post-surgery.
Before his injury, Rojas totaled 25 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and one pass defended over four games.
As for Rappleyea, who finished out the 2025 season, he sustained a lower-body injury in the offseason. He wasn't available for spring practice, so these reps during fall camp are even more critical. This wasn't his first injury of his collegiate career either. Rappleyea missed a majority of the 2024 season due to a knee injury.
Over 13 games in 2025, Rappleyea caught 20 receptions for 180 yards and three touchdowns. One of his catches was a 53-yard touchdown reception against Rutgers.
Both players returning was huge for Campbell. Having critical pieces on offense and defense that embody the Penn State culture in addition to their talent is something Campbell couldn't replace.
Though he brought over a few tight ends that upped the competition in that position room, Rappleyea is a vocal leader in the locker room. He also is a key blocker for the Nittany Lions, which is where most of his talents are used on the field. He'll likely have a similar role in 2026 next to other players in that room, such as Iowa State transfer Benjamin Brahmer. Depth in that room will go a long way for offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser, and Rappleyea is a crucial part of that.
Rojas' spot in the linebacker room is set in stone. He was expected to be a critical component of former defensive coordinator Jim Knowles' defense in 2025, and his absence was blatantly obvious once he was out.
Eyes will be on Rojas, Rappleyea, and others on that injury list throughout the duration of camp. Full participation on Day 1, though, is major and shows just how confident Campbell and his staff are in them being back 100 percent for the upcoming season.
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