Penn State fall camp gets underway on Wednesday, one month from the 2026 season opener, hosting Marshall at Beaver Stadium. This fall camp will feel a bit different in Happy Valley because, for the first time since 2014, the Nittany Lions have a new head coach.
After last year’s collapse and James Franklin’s firing, Matt Campbell has assumed command over the Penn State football program. That means a lot of change, so here’s everything to keep an eye on during training camp.
Penn State fall camp start and close
- Wednesday, August 5: Fall camp officially opens
- Monday, August 31: Week 1 preparations begin
- Saturday, September 5: Week 1 vs. Marshall
Coaching staff changes for 2026
- Matt Campbell: Head coach
- Taylor Mouser: Offensive coordinator
- D’Anton Lynn: Defensive coordinator
- Deon Broomfield: Safeties/Pass game coordinator
- Ryan Clanton: Offensive line coach
- Savion Huggins: Running backs coach
- Ikaika Malloe: Defensive line coach/Run game coordinator
- Christian Smith: Edge coach
- Jake Waters: Quarterbacks coach
- Tyson Veidt: Linebackers coach
Key new Nittany Lions to know
- QB, Rocco Becht (Iowa State transfer)
- RB, Carson Hansen (Iowa State transfer)
- TE, Benjamin Brahmer (Iowa State transfer)
- C, Brock Riker (Texas State transfer)
- DE, Ikenna Ezeogu (Iowa State transfer)
- LB, Kooper Ebel (Iowa State transfer)
- S, Marcus Neal Jr. (Iowa State transfer)
Position battles to watch
DE - 4 players for 2 starting spots
Yvan Kemajou, Max Granville, Ikenna Ezeogu, and Alexander McPherson will all play on the edge this season, but how that rotation works out will likely be decided in fall camp.
LT - Malachi Goodman vs. Owen Aliciene vs. Garrett Sexton
From all indications, this is a true three-horse race for the starting left tackle spot. All three were retained from James Franklin’s roster, and all three seem to have major upside. Former five-star Malachi Goodman, though, likely has the highest ceiling and would be the safest bet as a Week 1 starter.
QB2 - Alex Manske vs. Connor Barry
Alex Manske missed spring and spent it at home in Iowa recovering from a ‘medical condition,’ and Rocco Becht was out recovering from surgery on his non-throwing shoulder, so D-III transfer Connor Barry gobbled up plenty of first-team reps. Manske, though, appears to be the heir-apparent, at least in Campbell’s mind, so he’ll likely have the upper hand.
Injury updates:
- LB - Alex Tatsch (undisclosed): limited to start camp
- S - Jeremiah Cooper (torn ACL): limited to start camp
- TE - Gabe Burkle (knee): limited
According to Matt Campbell’s comments at Big Ten media days, both Alex Tatsch and Jeremiah Cooper are expected to be limited at the start of camp but game-ready or near game-ready by Week 1. Penn State has a nice runway starting the year with Marshall, Temple, and Buffalo for its injured players to work their way back.
Burkle is ahead of Tatsch and Cooper in his recovery from a season-ending knee injury he suffered last November, but will still be limited to start camp.
Depth chart projection:
Offense
- QB: Rocco Becht, Alex Manske
- RB: Carson Hanse - James Peoples - Quinton Martin Jr.
- X-WR: Chase Sowell - Karon Brookins
- Z-WR: Brett Eskildsen - Keith Jones Jr.
- Slot: Koby Howard - Zay Robinson
- TE: Benjamin Brahmer - Andrew Rappleyea - Gabe Burkle
- LT: Malachi Goodman - Owen Aliciene
- LG: Trevor Buhr - Chimdy Onoh
- C: Brock Riker - Dominic Rulli
- RG: Cooper Cousins - Chimdy Onoh
- RT: Anthony Donkoh - Garrett Sexton
Defense
- DE: Yvan Kemajou - Ikenna Ezeogu
- DT: Armstrong Nnodim - Dallas Vakalahi
- DT: Siale Taupaki - Keanu Williams
- DE: Max Granville - Alexander McPherson
- WLB: Tony Rojas - Caleb Bacon - Cael Brezina
- MLB: Kooper Ebel - Alex Tatsch
- Nickel: Zion Tracy - Ibn McDaniels
- CB: Daryus Dixson - Jahmir Joseph
- CB: Audavion Collins - Joshua Johnson
- FS: Jeremiah Cooper - Jamison Patton
- SS: Marcus Neal Jr. - Vaboue Toure
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