Rocco Becht deserves the hype, but don’t let these Penn State transfers fly under the radar

It's no secret that senior quarterback Rocco Becht was the top transfer Penn State football landed in the offseason. With head coach Matt Campbell coming over from Iowa State and the Nittany Lions essentially being without a star under center, bringing in the most experienced quarterback in the NCAA in 2026 was critical.

Ari Wasserman of On3 agreed. In his ranking of the most impactful transfers in the Big Ten for this upcoming season, Becht slotted in at No. 5. While other Penn State transfers weren't on the list, that doesn't mean they don't deserve some recognition before they hit the field.

Penn State added 39 transfers in the offseason. These eight players might not be top transfers in the conference, but are names to keep in mind once Saturday football is back in action.

Brahmer was Penn State's highest-rated transfer in the offseason, and that includes Becht. In 2025, the tight end was an All-Big 12 second-teamer and semifinalist for the John Mackey Award after putting up 37 catches for 446 yards and six touchdowns across 12 games and 10 starts. He ranks fifth in Iowa State history in career receiving yards (977) and tight end receptions (75).

Tight end wasn't a position Campbell desperately needed to revamp, but it needed a little boost as returning Nittany Lion Andrew Rappleyea can't carry all the weight. Brahmer is a red zone threat and perfect target for Becht as the crew of Iowa State transfers adjust to the Big Ten.

Unlike the tight end room, Penn State's wide receiver room is always in an era of rebuilding. Sowell will hopefully be the first stepping stone in the right direction as he has something to prove in his final college season.

His numbers in 2025 aren't anything to rave about, but a reliable target is what Becht needs and Sowell has the experience Campbell is looking for. He had 32 receptions for 500 yards and two touchdowns last season, but is still considered one of the top senior wideouts heading into 2026. Like Brahmer, there's no chemistry-building period he and Becht need to go through. They're comfortable with each other on the field, and with Becht back and healthy, those receiving numbers should go up for Sowell.

Hansen and Ohio State transfer James Peoples might still be in competition for that starting spot, but neither of them can do it all on their own. That RB2 spot matters, especially without Nicholas Singleton or Kaytron Allen on the roster anymore.

The former Iowa State running back logged 188 carries for 952 rushing yards and six touchdowns in 2025 across 11 games and nine starts. He had five consecutive games where he had 100-plus rushing yards, which was the most in program history since 2020. Even if Peoples earns that starting role, there's no denying what Hansen will bring to the field for his senior season.

In 2025, Bacon was a semifinalist for the Comeback Player of the Year award after starting in all 12 games and making 68 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, three pass breakups, and one forced fumble.

The Nittany Lions have Tony Rojas in that linebacker room, and the addition of Bacon makes that a lethal duo. After a 2025 season that saw Penn State's defense's flaws on full display, there's a ton of value in a transfer like Bacon to provide that security and threat.

Cooper was a critical addition for the defensive back room. He has experience playing at both safety and cornerback, and returns to the former position which he has three years of NCAA experience at. Cooper tied for sixth-most career passes defended (30) among active FBS players and tied for 10th all-time at Iowa State in career interceptions (eight).

The safety room underwent a massive turnover, and finding the right guy to start was essential. Cooper was one of them. the former Cyclone has versatility to be a free safety, nickel, or even transition to cornerback if need be.

Taupaki doesn't come to Penn State with a ton of starting experience considering the length of his collegiate career. He started in eight games from 2024-25, only one of which was this past season. In 12 games, though, he logged 15 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, and one fumble recovery.

Transfers were a major key at this position rather than relying solely on young talent. For Taupaki, he and defensive line coach Ikaika Malloe are very familiar with one another. Malloe was UCLA's defensive coordinator coach from 2024-25 and also served as the Bruins' defensive line coach in 2023. Familarity with the coaching staff is huge for these transfers, and it's not just connections with Campbell that matter.

At Texas State, Riker started in 12 games at center and allowed zero sacks in pass-blocking situations as a redshirt freshman. The Big Ten will be a test, but at 6-foot-4 and 291 pounds, Riker is a sturdy, reliable option at center for a Penn State offensive line undergoing some changes.

The Nittany Lions aren't weak in their offensive line room, there are just a few new faces that haven't built that in-game chemistry yet. Riker will have time to learn behind redshirt senior Dominic Rulli, helping his transition even more into the Big Ten. The two are replacing former Penn Stater Nick Dawkins who who held the fort down for the last six seasons.

McPherson's only a sophomore, but he had a promising season at Colorado as a true freshman. He brings special teams experience as well to the Nittany Lion roster, which is a bonus. In 2025, he totaled 16 tackles, six quarterback hurries, one blocked punt, and half a sack. With Dani Dennis-Sutton in the NFL, the defensive end room at Penn State will rely on a lot of young talent to step up.

His high school background comes from IMG Academy as well, so regardless of his rating as a recruit or transfer, McPherson has been on track to becoming an elite player at the Division I level for some time. He led his high school team in sacks and tackles for loss.

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