Penn State football offensive lineman Cooper Cousins was the first Nittany Lion who announced his return to Happy Valley after the conclusion of the 2025 season. While many players went back-and-forth, some opting to enter the Transfer Portal and others deciding to run it back with the blue and white for at least one more year, there was no doubt in Counsins' mind that he belonged at Penn State.
These two Big Ten head coaches need Matt Campbell to bust in Year 1
"I went right home the day after the [bowl] game. My parents sat me down, obviously, they wanted to explore and stuff," Cousins recalled on Saturday, as reported by Basic Blues Nation on Twitter/X. "But I told them, 'I don't have any intention to go on anywhere.'"
The Nittany Lions recruited Cousins from the Class of 2024 and they were the only program the lineman had his sights set on since before receiving his offer. He made two unofficial visits in 2021 before Penn State extended an offer, and after making a Junior Day visit in 2022, he officially committed to the program. From thereon out, no one else mattered. Cousins signed with Penn State on Dec. 20, 2023 and enrolled on Jan. 9, 2024.
That same mindset carried with him as he assessed the situation happening in Happy Valley once Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin was fired: it was always going to be Penn State.
On Dec. 29, 2025, Cousins made his announcement via social media that he intends on staying in Happy Valley.
"I committed here as a sophomore in high school. So, my vision was clear and set in stone. I'm going to go to Penn State University. I'm going to get a degree from Penn State University. I'm going to play football at Penn State University. And that was really it for me," Cousins said on Saturday. ". . . There was no doubt in my mind that I wasn't going to leave here."
The Erie, Penn. native played in all 16 contests on offense and special teams as a true freshman in 2024 and he only missed one game in 2025 (Week 7 vs. Northwestern).
Despite Florida offensive line coach Phil Trautwein leaving the Nittany Lions following head coach Matt Campbell's hiring, Cousins didn't need to wait and see who was staying and who was leaving on the staff to make his decision.
Cousins will now work with offensive line coach Ryan Clanton. Clanton comes to Penn State after serving as Iowa State's offensive line coach from 2023-25 under Campbell. He was also the cyclones run game coordinator starting in 2024. Prior to his stint in the Big 12, Clanton coaches at Northern Iowa for five seasons.