Penn State football's 2026 roster is taking form now that the Transfer Portal action is winding down. With a number of Nittany Lions leaving due to expired eligibility, declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft, or transferring out, things look a little different in Happy Valley.
Way-too-early Penn State 2026 defensive and special teams depth chart projection
Here's our way-too-early 2026 Penn State offensive depth chart projection:
Skill Positions
Quarterback - Rocco Becht
Backup: Alex Manske
It's Becht all the way for the Nittany Lions. He's familiar with head coach Matt Campbell, having spent his collegiate career with him at Iowa State, and has the Division I experience necessary to lead Penn State. As a Cyclone in 2025, he played in 12 games and finished with a 60.5 completion rate on 205-of-339 completed passes for 2,584 yards and 16 touchdowns. As a sophomore in 2024, Becht completed 271 passes for 3,505 yards and 25 touchdowns over 14 games. He eclipsed the 3,000-passing yard mark as a redshirt freshman as well.
Connor Barry (senior), Jack Lambert (redshirt junior), Peyton Falzone (freshman), and Kase Evans (freshman) make up the rest of the quarterback room. Falzone has an opportunity to compete with Barry for a third-string role, but expect to see Becht almost exclusively throughout the season.
Running back - Carson Hansen
Backups: James Peoples, Quinton Martin Jr.
Familiarity is the piece that puts Hansen above Peoples and Martin Jr. at least to start the season, but those other two will be key rotational guys. Hansen finished his junior season at Iowa State with 188 carries for 952 yards and six touchdowns.
Cam Wallace (redshirt junior) and D'Antae Sheffey (freshman) are the remaining two in the running back room. Freshman Amare Glover committed, but has not enrolled.
Wide receiver - Chase Sowell, Brett Eskildsen, Koby Howard
Backups: Lyrick Samuel, Peter Gonzalez, Keith Jones Jr.
Sowell and Eskildsen coming from the Cyclones with the numbers they put up in 2025 combined might just be the answer Penn State needs at wide receiver. Together, the duo had 62 receptions for 1,026 yards and seven scores. Campbell needs more than a dominant run game to truly start a new chapter in Happy Valley. Those two with Howard, who had seven receptions for 133 yards over nine games while learning from a trio of talented transfers in 2025, can help kickstart that era. Sowell and Eskildsen also have the chemistry with Becht already, making this an ideal lineup for the Nittany Lions.
Logan Cunningham (redshirt senior), Ethan Blank (redshirt junior), Keith Jones Jr. (redshirt sophomore), Karon Brookins (redshirt freshman), Zay Robinson (redshirt freshman), and Ben Whitver (freshman) are the others in the wide receiver room. Freshmen Andrew Jackson and Henry Lustig committed to Penn State, but have yet to enroll.
Tight end - Benjamin Brahmer, Andrew Rappleyea
Brahmer was a crucial addition, especially paired with Rappleyea returning. With Iowa State, he put up 37 receptions for 446 yards and six touchdowns. Rappleyea quickly became the leading tight end for Penn State, logging 20 catches for 180 yards and three scores when he and Virginia Tech quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer finally got going down the line in the season.
Backup: Gabe Burkle
Finn Furmanek (redshirt junior), Cooper Alexander (redshirt sophomore), and Brian Kortovich (redshirt freshman) make up the rest of the tight end room.
Offensive line
Penn State's offensive line depth will be tested as a number of 2025 starters are not returning in 2026. There's a lot of new talent between young returners and incoming transfers, so expect Campbell to rely on familiarity and experience.
Left tackle - Owen Aliciene
Backups: Garrett Sexton, Malachi Goodman
Left guard - Trevor Buhr
Backup: Chimdy Onoh
Center - Dominic Rulli
Backup: Brock Riker
Right guard - Cooper Cousins
Backup: Tyshon Huff
Right tackle - Anthony Donkoh
Backups: Garrett Sexton, Malachi Goodman
Jim Fitzgerald (redshirt senior), Henry Boehme (redshirt junior), Caleb Brewer (redshirt sophomore), Liam Horan (redshirt sophomore), Donnie Harbour (redshirt sophomore), Hunter Albright (redshirt freshman), Kuol Kuol II (redshirt freshman), Will Tompkins (redshirt freshman), Vaea Ikakoula (redshirt freshman), Mason Bandhauer (freshman) are the remaining offensive linemen. Pete Eglitis committed, but has not enrolled.