In the midst of positive news for head coach Matt Campbell and Penn State football with fall camp and the start of the season coming up, 2028 commit Deonte Flemings Jr. threw a wrench in that.
Flemings announced that he's also taking game day visits to Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Nebraska, and Tennessee. These are huge threats for the Nittany Lions to go up against if the cornerback is debating decommitting and giving other schools a serious shot in his recruitment.
It's not the end of the world, but it's definitely not a good look for Campbell who couldn't stay afloat in the 2027 cycle.
Underrated names stand out in fall camp
Peyton Falzone has switched from quarterback to tight end, which is the position he's trained for since fall camp started. While Campbell said that quarterback is still on the table for the true freshman, he doesn't want to waste his potential as an overall athlete.
It's not a guarantee that tight end will be permanent for the rest of his collegiate career, but there's a clearer pathway to playing time in Happy Valley if it does stick. With Benjamin Brahmer and Gabe Burkle on their way out after 2026, getting Falzone up to speed now can set the Nittany Lions' offense up for the future. Campbell said to media that Falzone's first few days have went well.
Running back James Peoples has also stood out, but not necessarily in the run game surprisingly. Rather, Campbell commended the Ohio State transfer on his blocking ability in passing situations. That versatility and willingness to wear multiple hats could be what sets Peoples apart from the rest of the running back room.
Getting reasonable with quarterbacks Drew Allar and Rocco Becht
The former Penn State quarterback and third-round 2026 NFL Draft pick played in his first preseason game. Allar was 10-of-13 for 153 yards and two passing touchdowns. He also tallied a rushing score of his own in Pittsburgh's contest.
On paper, that seems like an amazing start for the former Nittany Lion, but as Josh Yourish said, "he wasn’t dripping with superstar potential." One preseason game against the practice squad's practice squad isn't enough to sell us on Allar, though the possibility of him developing into the quarterback he was initially promised to be for Penn State isn't off the table with an NFL coaching staff. Let's just pump the brakes on the hype for now.
As for Becht, who enters his senior and final year in the NCAA, there's a few things that come up in his film that inhibit him from being "the guy" that gets the Nittany Lions over the hump. He's "good" at a lot of things — not "great."
As Yourish described Becht, he's the kind of quarterback a team "wins with," not "because of." That's not necessarily a bad thing for Campbell, Mouser, and the rest of the staff. Small improvements will help his overall game, but the red zone is where his lack of greatness really shows. If he can get over that hump with the help of an overall talented offense, Penn State can be in a great spot, it just won't be because of Becht exclusively.
More: Kooper Ebel makes watch list and Penn State 2028 commit makes it known what position he wants to play
As the 2026 season gets closer, preseason watch lists and rankings are coming out one after another. The Butkus Award recently released its watch list for the most impactful linebacker in football at the high school, college, and professional levels.
Senior Kooper Ebel was the only Nittany Lion who made the watch list. Ebel followed Campbell over from Iowa State after spending the 2023-25 seasons in Ames. He recorded 77 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three pass breakups, one sack, and one forced fumble in 2025.
Butkus Award Watch List 📋
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) August 13, 2026
This award is given annually to the top linebacker in college football. @KooperEbel pic.twitter.com/2hpdjsZusk
As for future Penn Staters, Flemings spoke with Locked On Nittany Lions on Aug. 12. He was asked about what position he wants to play in college, and the Erie, Pa. native made it clear.
"For sure, I'd like to be labeled as a cornerback," Flemings said.
Flemings previously played linebacker when he first got to high school, but made the position switch. Cornerback has stuck with the 2028 commit since. Flemings is a four-star recruit who's ranked 113th nationally and 11th at cornerback, according to 247Sports Composite rankings.
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