Penn State has identified Matt Campbell, the former Iowa State coach, as its next leader after parting ways with James Franklin. With Campbell arriving and the Nittany Lions having signed only two players in the early 2026 cycle, the task ahead is clear: rebuild the roster quickly and intelligently.
Penn State’s 2025 squad featured a veteran-heavy roster, with 34 players recognized on Senior Day and many already exhausted their eligibility. That reality, plus the likelihood of further departures through the transfer portal, means Campbell will need to move decisively. The January 2 transfer window opens, and Campbell is expected to pursue a strong influx, including several Cyclones alumni and several of Iowa State’s 2026 signees (22 in total).
Equally important will be preserving some of Penn State’s own developing talents from 2025. The immediate focus, however, is identifying key Cyclones—both current players and the next wave—who could transition successfully to Penn State and contribute next season.
Redshirt junior quarterback Rocco Becht
Quarterback decisions will be among the biggest on Campbell’s plate as he shapes the staff and roster for 2026. While Penn State already benefited from redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer stepping in for the injured Drew Allar, Campbell arrives with firsthand familiarity of Becht, who has started for three seasons at Iowa State.
Becht stands 6-1 and 210 pounds and has earned notable honors, including second-team All-America and Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2023, along with an All-Big 12 honorable mention in 2024. This season he averaged 215.3 passing yards per game with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions, a line that reflected some challenges after losing two NFL-caliber receivers to the offseason. Becht’s earlier 2023–2024 work showed higher efficiency, with over 240 passing yards per game and a combined 48 touchdowns to 17 interceptions. He is also a legitimate rushing threat, adding 19 career rushing scores.
Junior running backs Carson Hanson and Abu Sama III
Iowa State’s ground game was productive this year, thanks to Hanson and Sama. Hanson rushed for 950 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per carry, while Sama produced 732 yards and five scores at 5.2 yards per carry. The Cyclones ranked 51st nationally in rushing, powered by this duo. Hanson broke out in 2024 with 752 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, and Sama has been consistently productive since joining the program, posting 614 and 587 yards in his first two seasons. Sama has not been a major receiving threat, but Hanson has contributed in the receiving game, logging at least 11 catches for 88 yards in each season. Hanson earned All-Big 12 second-team honors this year.
Junior tight end Benjamin Brahmer
Tight ends have been a strength for both Penn State and Campbell’s Iowa State program, and Brahmer fits that mold at 6-7 and 255 pounds. He endured a season shortened by injury in 2024 but emerged as a key contributor. A 2023 freshman All-American, Brahmer also earned All-Big 12 honorable mentions, later joining Hanson as a second-team All-Conference selection this past season. In 2025, Brahmer recorded 37 receptions for 446 yards and a team-high six touchdowns.
Sophomore defensive back Marcus Neal Jr.
Iowa State’s defense was solid against the run in 2025 but struggled to pressure the quarterback, making a strong secondary crucial. Neal contributed significantly, earning third-team All-Big 12 honors. The Kansas City, Missouri product tied for the team lead with 77 tackles and tallied two interceptions, three pass breakups, and a forced fumble.
Redshirt junior defensive back Jontez Williams
Williams is widely regarded as one of Iowa State’s top defenders, even if his impact isn’t fully captured in the box score. He was targeted only 15 times in coverage and allowed eight receptions, earning a second-team All-Big 12 nod in 2024. From Florida, Williams has appeared in every Iowa State game since redshirt year in 2022, finishing this season with 15 tackles, an interception, and three pass breakups.
Junior linebacker Kooper Ebel
Ebel logged 77 tackles, matching Neal’s output, and also broke up three passes. His production aligns with a 69-tackle season in 2024. If Campbell brings in defensive coordinator Jon Heacock to Happy Valley, a veteran like Ebel could help anchor a 3-3-5 scheme with experienced leadership.
Redshirt junior wide receiver Chase Sowell
Sowell has already represented three different programs in his collegiate career, redshirting at Colorado due to injury, then spending two seasons at East Carolina before joining Iowa State. He finished second on the Cyclones in receiving with 500 yards and two touchdowns. Sowell is a bigger receiver at 6-3 and 210 pounds; his track record includes 81 receptions for 1,300 yards and four touchdowns during his East Carolina tenure.
Sophomore wide receiver Brett Eskildsen
Eskildsen was a high-profile transfer for Campbell, and in 2025 he led Iowa State in receiving. He closed the season with 30 receptions for 526 yards and five touchdowns in his first year as a starter. Eskildsen hails from Frisco, Texas, and was a three-star prospect heading into college.
2026 four-star wide receiver Jeffrey Roberts
Campbell may pursue several 2026 signees to join Penn State’s ranks, though only two in that class cracked the top-500 prospects per the 247Sports Composite. Roberts sits at No. 417 nationally and is the highest-rated among that group. Roberts is a local recruit from Ames, Iowa, which could complicate the transfer appeal, but his recruitment largely stayed within Iowa State’s orbit. At 6 feet tall and 180 pounds, he’s a project with potential as a long-term contributor for Penn State. On the high school level, Roberts finished with 117 receptions for 2,519 yards and 31 touchdowns.
2026 three-star defensive end Elijah Reeder
Reeder is another cycle standout from the region Campbell knows well. The New Jersey native recorded 50 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and eight sacks in his senior year at Central Regional High School. Securing a top-500 defensive end would be a solid win for Campbell as he builds a Penn State unit from the ground up.
Strategic implications
Bringing in a batch of Cyclones veterans alongside promising 2026 signees could help Campbell stabilize a roster in transition. Simultaneously, retaining younger Penn State talent will be essential to maintaining program continuity. The next few weeks will reveal which players can make the leap to Happy Valley and contribute meaningfully in 2026 and beyond.
Would-be conversations in the comments: Do these targeted moves represent the best path for Penn State to reestablish its championship trajectory, or might other transfers from different programs yield a quicker, more balanced rebuild? How aggressively should Campbell pursue in-state and regional connections to accelerate rapport with Penn State’s facilities, culture, and expectations?
