Big Ten Media Days are nearby as Penn State is slated to take the podium on Tuesday, July 8.
Questions about fall camp position battles, what Year 1 looks like under new head coach Matt Campbell, quarterback Rocco Becht leading the Nittany Lions' offense, and how to get off to a good start in this new Penn State era will all be important topics during the week.
While there's a lot of uncertainty as to how the season will go and how Campbell will lead the Nittany Lions long-term, there's a lot of excitement as to what he and this new squad will bring to Happy Valley as fans adjust to the new faces on field and on the staff.
Former Nittany Lions get some hype before NFL training camp ensues
Over the weekend, former Penn State quarterback Drew Allar signed his rookie contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The third-round, No. 78 overall draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft officially has a home and is ready to continue working with quarterbacks coach Tom Arth.
Arth and Allar are very familiar with each other having both been in Ohio while Allar was a high school freshman. Trust and work ethic are driving Allar's time in Pittsburgh as of now, and only time will tell if he's improved and reached his potential with a coaching staff that understands the tools he needs to succeed.
As for other former Nittany Lions, they're already on the path to being stars in 2026.
Second-year tight end Tyler Warren is one of them. Pro Football Focus ranked the top 32 tight ends in the league heading into the season, and Warren was the highest-ranked former Penn Stater. He made the top 10 alongside names like Kansas City's Travis Kelce, Buffalo Bills' Dalton Kincaid, and Arizona Cardinals' Trey McBride.
The other former Nittany Lions representing Tight End University were Brenton Strange (No. 11), Juwan Johnson (No. 18), Pat Freiermuth (No. 20), Mike Gesicki (No. 26), and Theo Johnson (No. 32).
1 Penn State transfer can make a name for himself while others are on portal watch
Campbell brought in a number of transfers in the offseason with a majority coming from Iowa State. The buzz has surrounded the offense, especially, with Becht, tight end Benjamin Brahmer, and running back Carson Hansen, but one defensive player is flying under the radar: safety Jeremiah Cooper.
Cooper wasn't the only safety the Nittany Lions added to their roster, and he's not the most highly-anticipated either. That doesn't mean he can't rise to the top and be a standout for Penn State.
In The Big Ten Huddle's preseason Top 100 rankings, Cooper was ranked the highest out of all Nittany Lions. In fact, he was the only one even ranked in the top half of the list, coming in at No. 22.
Like many other transfers, Cooper enters his final season of eligibility. He'll be a one-and-done for Penn State and can set a strong foundation for Campbell to continue building on in the future. As for players eligible to return after the 2026 season, not all of them have a secure spot in Happy Valley.
Running back Cam Wallace, quarterback Peyton Falzone, defensive lineman Liam Andrews, offensive tackle Garrett Sexton, and offensive lineman Chimdy Odoh are all names who are currently most likely to transfer after the season.
Not all of them have a history of significant production or presence on the field, the size and measurements that match with the staff's style, or the connections other players on the roster have with the coaches. It's a new Nittany Lion era, and not all of the guys are going to cut it.
More: CBS Sports believes the opportunity is there for Matt Campbell
It's no secret that Campbell was gifted an easy schedule for Year 1 with at Penn State. Michigan, USC, and Washington are the toughest opponents the Nittany Lions face in 2026, and that's something Campbell should not only be grateful for, but something he should take advantage of.
"The opportunity is there to reach 10 wins if all the new pieces mesh," Cody Nagel of CBS Sports wrote. "After last year's abrupt end to the James Franklin era, expectations have been reset, but the pieces are in place for a substantial jump in the win column."
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