For Matt Campbell’s first trick at Penn State, he has to take half of his Iowa State roster from last season and half of James Franklin’s Nittany Lions, combine them, and turn them into a Big Ten contender. That process began the moment he left Ames for Happy Valley, and now the final steps will take place at fall camp, which got underway on Wednesday.
Along with the Nittany Clones, Campbell and general manager Derek Hoodjer sprinkled a few outside transfers into the mix. So, the roster doesn’t seem to have any glaring holes, but how things will shake out on the depth chart remains to be seen.
There is competition for snaps all over, but the key battles are at left tackle, defensive end, and in crowded running back, tight end, and linebacker rooms. Fall camp will help the new coaching staff determine who takes the first snaps in Week 1 when Penn State hosts Marshall at Beaver Stadium, but with just one practice out of the way, I’ll take a crack at projecting the depth chart.
Penn State 2026 depth chart projection:
Offense
Position | 1st team | 2nd team | 3rd team |
|---|---|---|---|
QB | Rocco Becht | Alex Manske | Connor Barry |
RB | Carson Hansen | James Peoples | Quinton Martin Jr. |
X-WR | Chase Sowell | Karon Brookins | Keith Jones Jr. |
Z-WR | Brett Eskildsen | Lyrick Samuel | Peter Gonzalez |
Slot | Koby Howard | Zay Robinson | Ethan Black |
TE | Benjamin Brahmer | Andrew Rappleyea | Gabe Burkle |
LT | Malachi Goodman | Owen Aliciene | Kuol Kuol II |
LG | Trevor Buhr | Chimdy Onoh | Donnie Harbour |
C | Brock Riker | Dominic Rulli | Vaea Ikakoula |
RG | Cooper Cousins | Will Tompkins | Hunter Albright |
RT | Anthony Donkoh | Garrett Sexton | Jim Fitzgerald |
Coming out of fall camp, it appeared there was going to be a QB2 competition between Alex Manske and D-III transfer Connor Barry. With Becht and Manske both missing time, Barry gobbled up reps. However, Manske still has an extra year in Taylor Mouser’s system, and the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Iowa native appears to be the heir-apparent.
At left tackle, I’m leaning on Malachi Goodman’s five-star pedigree because there aren’t any more experienced options for Campbell and offensive line coach Ryan Clanton to choose from. It’s a good sign that Garrett Sexton and Owen Aliciene have themselves in the mix with Goodman, but that top-end talent should win out.
Running back and tight end will both be rotations, and are both groups with a variety of skill sets, allowing each to fit their best role. In the backfield, I expect Hansen to get the lion’s share. At tight end, it’s less clear. Rappleyea is the most well-rounded, Brahmer is the most dynamic pass-catching weapon, and Burkle is the best blocker. All three will see the field in Mouser’s two- and three-tight-end sets.
Defense
Position: | 1st team | 2nd team | 3rd team |
|---|---|---|---|
DE | Yvan Kemajou | Ikenna Ezeogu | Dayshaun Burnett |
DE | Max Granville | Alexander McPherson | LaVar Arrington II |
DL | Armstrong Nnodim | Dallas Vakalahi | Alijah Carnell |
DL | Siale Taupaki | Keanu Williams | Ty Blanding |
WLB | Tony Rojas | Caleb Bacon | Cael Brezina |
MLB | Kooper Ebel | Alex Tatsch | Cam Smith |
Nickel | Zion Tracy | Ibn McDaniels | Xxavier Thomas |
CB | Daryus Dixson | Jahmir Joseph | Hunter Sowell |
CB | Audavion Collins | Joshua Johnson | Tyrell Chatman |
FS | Jeremiah Cooper | Jamison Patton | Omarion Davis |
SS | Marcus Neal Jr. | Vaboue Toure | Bryson Williams |
There aren’t true battles because all four defensive ends, Yvan Kemajou, Max Granville, Ikenna Ezeogu, and Alexander McPherson, will all play. Kemajou and Ezeogu are likely strong-side defensive ends, and Granville and McPherson are likely on the weak side, but all will factor into a fairly robust rotation.
My bigger question is at linebacker. It’s less of a who will start in D’Anton Lynn’s 4-2-5 system; it’s clear that’s Tony Rojas and Kooper Ebel. It’s more a question of how Lynn and linebackers coach Dan Connor will get proven veterans like Cael Brezina and Caleb Bacon, and maybe the defense’s most intriguing young talent, Alex Tatsch, onto the field.
It’s great to have depth, and it may get tested, but if Rojas and Ebel stay healthy, off-ball linebacker isn’t exactly a rotational position like edge or defensive tackle where a unit can go four or five deep, especially considering someone, presumably Rojas, will have to wear the green dot.
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