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Category: Penn State

  • Reports: Iowa State QB Rocco Becht joining coach Matt Campbell at Penn State

    Reports: Iowa State QB Rocco Becht joining coach Matt Campbell at Penn State

    The transfer portal officially opened on Friday, and Penn State already has its next quarterback.

    According to several reports, former Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht is joining coach Matt Campbell at Penn State. Becht entered the transfer portal a few weeks after Campbell departed Ames, Iowa, for the Penn State job on Dec. 5.

    The link between Becht and Penn State was obvious, considering Campbell and his staff’s familiarity with the quarterback. In 2025, Becht passed for 2,584 yards and 16 touchdowns in his third year starting under Campbell at Iowa State. Becht, a native of Wesley Chapel, Fla., was a three-star recruit in high school, according to 247Sports.

    As the transfer portal opens, Penn State has a clear need at quarterback. Here are options to consider.

    Across three years starting for the Cyclones, Becht totaled 9,274 yards and 64 touchdowns in 39 starts. In addition to reuniting with Campbell, Becht will be rejoining Jake Waters, his quarterbacks coach at Iowa State who holds the same position at Penn State, and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser.

    Becht joins several other former Iowa State players to follow Campbell to Penn State. The list includes tight end Benjamin Brahmer, offensive lineman Will Tompkins, safety Marcus Neal Jr., wide receiver Brett Eskildsen, backup quarterback Alex Manske, and running back Carson Hansen. Eskildsen was Iowa State’s leading receiver last year, while Hansen was the team’s leading rusher.

    The move became more likely after Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer entered the portal on Thursday. Grunkemeyer started the final seven games for the Nittany Lions after Drew Allar was lost to a season-ending injury. He had his best performance in the Pinstripe Bowl game win, throwing for 260 yards and two touchdowns. Grunkemeyer finished the season completing 69.1% of his passes, with eight touchdowns and 1,339 yards.

    Campbell and Becht led Iowa State to its most successful two-year stint in program history with 19 wins in 2024 and 2025. Last year was the first time the program eclipsed double-digit victories.

    Iowa State coach Matt Campbell celebrates with is team after a touchdown by quarterback Rocco Becht (3) against Arizona.

    Iowa State’s passing game with Becht at the helm ranked 50th nationally in 2023 (245 yards per game), 39th in 2024 (255.7), and 73rd in 2025 as the quarterback battled through a partial labrum tear in his non-throwing shoulder. According to ESPN, Becht underwent labrum surgery on Dec. 11.

    Becht joins Penn State’s quarterback corps alongside Jack Lambert and new addition Manske. Along with Grunkemeyer, Jaxon Smolik and Bekkem Kritza also entered the portal.

    Becht’s father, Anthony, played in the NFL for 12 years and is a Drexel Hill native and Monsignor Bonner High graduate. He played tight end and was a first-round pick by the Jets in 2000, and also played for the Buccaneers, Rams, Chiefs, and Cardinals. Anthony is now the head coach of the Orlando Storm of the United Football League.

  • As the transfer portal opens, Penn State has a clear need at quarterback. Here are options to consider.

    As the transfer portal opens, Penn State has a clear need at quarterback. Here are options to consider.

    On the eve of the only transfer portal for the year opening in college football, Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, who started the final seven games of the season, announced his intention to enter.

    The decision isn’t shocking, and Grunkemeyer, a redshirt freshman, could return to the Nittany Lions. But with new coach Matt Campbell coming in with his own staff and likely running a new offense, it is becoming increasingly likely that next year’s starting quarterback is not on Penn State’s roster.

    Drew Allaris making the jump to the NFL, and Bekkem Kritza and Jaxon Smolik also entered the portal, leaving Jack Lambert as the quarterbacks remaining on the roster.

    Reports: Penn State close to hiring USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn

    That means that Campbell and his new staff in Happy Valley will need to go portal hunting for quarterback — and several other positions, as the roster is expected to have significant turnover.

    Here are the options Penn State could consider at quarterback, from a player familiar to the staff to others who have had success elsewhere:

    Reuniting with Becht?

    The most obvious answer to Penn State’s quarterback conundrum is to bring in Campbell’s starting quarterback at Iowa State, Rocco Becht, who is in the transfer portal. Becht seems like a natural fit in Happy Valley, considering his experience, familiarity with staff, and the high-profile nature of the games Penn State will play.

    Could new Penn State coach Matt Campbell bring in Rocco Becht, his starting quarterback at Iowa State?

    Becht threw for 9,274 yards and 64 touchdowns in 39 starts for Campbell. A starting quarterback following his coach to another school is not unprecedented, and Becht also would reunite with Jake Waters, his quarterbacks coach at Iowa State who holds the same position at Penn State, and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser.

    Having a proven quarterback for Campbell in Year 1 at Penn State with a favorable Big Ten schedule draw would be ideal. But nothing is certain in the portal, and there will be several suitors that need a quarterback.

    Bring back Pribula?

    Last year, before Penn State’s College Football Playoff first-round matchup with SMU, backup quarterback Beau Pribula entered the transfer portal and landed at Missouri. And after one season with the Tigers, in which he threw 1,941 yards and 11 touchdowns in 10 starts, he’s back in the portal. Could he come back to Happy Valley?

    Matt Campbell is flipping commits and building out his staff at Penn State

    Pribula played well in relief after Allar was injured during the Wisconsin game in 2024, and his rushing ability was heavily utilized in Andy Kotelnicki’s offense. Kotelnicki won’t be on the staff next season, but the familiarity with the program could intrigue Campbell and his staff if they don’t bring in Becht.

    He would be a one-year player, like Becht, barring injury. He would need to take care of the football better than he did this year (nine interceptions, five fumbles), but bringing him back seems like an option. Of course, former Penn State coach James Franklin and Virginia Tech could get involved, and his staff has plenty of familiarity with Pribula, too.

    High risk, high reward

    There are several other starters from Power Four schools who entered the portal and have a big pool of teams interested in their services. Quarterbacks like Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati), Dylan Raiola (Nebraska), and DJ Lagway (Florida) are among the top quarterbacks who will be highly coveted in the portal.

    Penn State likely won’t land the top of the portal market for quarterbacks, considering the uncertainty on the roster and a new staff coming in. There are other quarterbacks who may not garner the same interest as the top names and come with some risks.

    Aidan Chiles completed 63.1% of his passes and 10 touchdowns to three interceptions this past season at Michigan State.

    Former Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles entered the portal after the program’s coaching change. After an up and down 2024 season, Chiles was much more efficient in 2025 in nine starts, completing 63.1% of his passes and throwing for 10 touchdowns to three interceptions. He has big-time talent and two more seasons of eligibility, but has an 8-13 record as a starter over the last two seasons.

    Jaden Craig, the former Harvard starting quarterback for two years, is looking to make the jump from the FCS to the FBS. With the Crimson, he threw for career highs in touchdowns (25) and yards (2,869), but the level of competition in the Ivy League is much different from the Big Ten. Could he handle facing Big Ten defenses?

    Penn State also has two quarterbacks (Peyton Falzone and Kase Evans) signed in the 2026 recruiting class. Campbell has his work cut out for him over the next two weeks to build out his roster for the 2026 season and beyond. Getting a quarterback locked in should be atop the staff’s list.

  • Reports: Penn State close to hiring USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn

    Reports: Penn State close to hiring USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn

    Penn State is closing in on hiring D’Anton Lynn as its defensive coordinator, according to several reports on Monday.

    Lynn, a former Penn State letterman, has spent the last two seasons leading Southern Cal’s defense. His hiring will make him the fourth defensive coordinator at Penn State in as many years.

    Jim Knowles, the Philadelphia native who served as the program’s defensive coordinator in 2025, was not retained on new coach Matt Campbell’s staff and left to take the same position at Tennessee. Jon Heacock, who was the defensive coordinator in every season Campbell served as head coach at Iowa State, was expected to follow the new Penn State coach to Happy Valley, but he opted to retire last week.

    Matt Campbell is flipping commits and building out his staff at Penn State

    The 36-year-old Lynn also spent a year as UCLA’s defensive coordinator and spent time as an assistant in the NFL for the Chargers, Texans, Bills, and Ravens.

    This season, USC’s defense ranked 45th nationally in passing yards allowed per game (203.3), 48th in total defense (348.8 yards), and 49th in points allowed (22.4).

    Lynn played defensive back at Penn State from 2008-11 and finished with 162 tackles (seven for losses), four interceptions, and a fumble recovery in 47 career games.

  • Despite a number of key absentees, Penn State calls its Pinstripe Bowl win a ‘team effort.’

    Despite a number of key absentees, Penn State calls its Pinstripe Bowl win a ‘team effort.’

    NEW YORK — Penn State’s second overall appearance in the Pinstripe Bowl, played Saturday at storied Yankee Stadium against Clemson, wasn’t a big enough draw for 16 Nittany Lions players, including star senior running back Nicholas Singleton and senior defensive tackle Zane Durant, part of a sizable PSU group that skipped the team’s final game of the 2025 season.

    Perhaps the event could have been subtitled the Opt-Out Bowl.

    The Lions’ tumultuous season began with three straight victories and championship expectations, but later nosedived during a six-game losing streak that cost coach James Franklin his job after an October loss to Northwestern.

    Matt Campbell is flipping commits and building out his staff at Penn State. Is bringing in D’Anton Lynn as DC next?

    It made for a bittersweet close Saturday in the Bronx when Penn State beat Atlantic Coast Conference titan Clemson, 22-10.

    “A tremendous effort, team effort,” interim coach Terry Smith said postgame.

    But despite the historic Yankee Stadium venue, a national television audience, and Penn State riding a three-game winninig streak under Smith, the more tantalizing PSU storyline leading into Saturday’s tilt was how many Lions players were not in uniform.

    Twenty-four hours before the game, Smith was asked whether he was disappointed in the numerous players who opted out.

    “Well, we’re not disappointed. We have a tremendous opportunity to finish this season off the way the last three games have gone, and here’s a moment and an opportunity for these guys to step forward,” Smith said on a Zoom call with reporters. “It’s the next man up. This is today’s college football. We’re adapting and adjusting, and we have a game to play, and that’s all that matters. … We’re going to play hard and get after it like we’ve done the past four or five weeks.”

    Penn State was without star senior running back Nicholas Singleton, who opted out of playing in the bowl game earlier this season.

    Singleton, the Shillington, Pa., product who is the university’s career leader in rushing touchdowns (45) and all-purpose yards (5,586), and Durant, an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection, had both made their opt-out intentions public earlier this month. Singleton’s father, Tim, told The Inquirer that “the risk versus the reward wasn’t worth it” for his son to play in the Pinstripe Bowl.

    “It was a tough season, with Franklin getting fired,” said Tim Singleton, who still works as a mailman in Shillington. “Time to move on. Nicholas is in New York [for the game] and is going to support his teammates, especially the guys he came in with. We’re wishing them well.”

    Singleton is projected to be an early pick in the 2026 NFL draft, and Tim Singleton said his son would start the new year training in preparation for the Senior Bowl (Jan. 31), the NFL Scouting Combine (Feb. 23-March 6), and ultimately, the draft from April 23-25.

    “Hopefully, [we] stay healthy,” said Tim Singleton.

    Penn State defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton (33) reacts after tackling Clemson running back Adam Randall (8) during the first half of the Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday.

    One senior who did not opt out was defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton, who recorded two sacks in Saturday’s win.

    “Dani is my MVP, because this guy didn’t have to play today,” Smith said.

    Dennis-Sutton said it was a “no-brainer” to play in the season finale. “I made a dedication to this program,” he said. “I love playing football. I love this program.”

    The risk/reward component was likely a key factor for many of the players not in uniform — with no college playoff implications at stake, why risk injury in a game only months away from the draft, when many college players hope to make a lucrative jump to the pros?

    Both Penn State and Clemson began the season with title hopes, but each finished with a mediocre record — Penn State was 6-6, and Clemson was 7-5. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, however, already has two national championships with the Tigers on his resumé.

    Smith, the former Nittany Lions star receiver, meanwhile, coached his final game at the Penn State helm Saturday. Former Iowa State coach Matt Campbell assumes coaching duties in 2026.

    Smith, who will remain with the program, said before the game that Campbell would attend the Pinstripe Bowl.

    “Matt will be there, but I don’t know if he’s going to be on the sidelines or not,” Smith said. “He wants to stay hidden away and allow us to run the game.”

    Smith said he has had “terrific” communications with Campbell so far.

    “Yeah, it’s been great. He has made himself really accessible to the staff. We’re just trying to piece together and retain roster and bring in new roster players,” Smith said. “But he’s been very, very good. The guys that have come with him so far, they’ve been awesome, as well. We’re just learning [about] each other.”

    As for Penn State’s running game, Swinney said his team’s main worry going into the Pinstripe Bowl was how to contain the Lions’ rushing attack.

    “The biggest thing is [Penn State] can run the football. They’re big, strong, physical,” he said. “They’ve got the all-time leading rusher in the history of Penn State [in Kaytron Allen]. If you follow Penn State football, that says a lot. There have been a lot of people [who have played] there like Franco Harris and Saquon Barkley. They’ve had a bunch of great ones roll through there. So he’s a big strong back.”

    Penn State running back Kaytron Allen missed Saturday’s Pinstripe Bowl game due to injury.

    But even though Smith said Allen would be in uniform Saturday, Allen did not play due to injury. Allen is Penn State’s career rushing leader (4,180 yards), and is also expected to be a coveted draft pick next spring. Quinton Martin Jr. took the bulk of the Lions’ carries Saturday and finished with 101 yards.

    Nick Dawkins, Penn State’s center and the son of the late 76ers star Darryl Dawkins, was another opt-out. And there was only one PSU starting offensive lineman from the 2025 season, guard Anthony Donkoh, who was in uniform for Saturday’s game.

    On the heels of a winter storm that dumped several inches of snow on New York City on Friday night and into Saturday morning, the two teams took the field in frigid conditions before 41,101 fans. It was the first time the teams had met since the 1988 Citrus Bowl, a 35-10 Clemson victory.

    A dull first half ended with Penn State leading, 6-3. Lions kicker Ryan Barker booted field goals of 22 and 48 yards. Barker also later hit a 43-yarder. Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer (23-for-34, 262 yards), who took over after starter Drew Allar suffered a season-ending ankle injury on Oct. 11, connected with Trebor Peña for a 73-yard score. He connected with Andrew Rappleyea for an 11-yard, fourth-quarter TD to ice the game.

    As for Smith’s swan song as Penn State head coach?

    “It was a great ride,” he said. “I’m ready for the next chapter.”

    Not present

    The complete list of Penn State players who opted out of the Pinstripe Bowl included: Singleton, Durant, Dawkins, OL Alex Birchmeier, DE Chaz Coleman, DE Zuriah Fisher, CB AJ Harris, OL Vega Ioane, LB Kari Jackson, DE Daniel Jennings, LB Alex Tatsch, CB Elliot Washington, S Zakee Wheatley, TE Khalil Dinkins, OL Nolan Rucci, and OL Drew Shelton.

  • Penn State beats Clemson 22-10 in Pinstripe Bowl behind two TD passes from Ethan Grunkemeyer

    Penn State beats Clemson 22-10 in Pinstripe Bowl behind two TD passes from Ethan Grunkemeyer

    NEW YORK (AP) — Ethan Grunkemeyer threw for a career-high 262 yards and two TDs, including a 73-yard strike to Trebor Pena early in the fourth quarter, and Penn State beat Clemson 22-10 on Saturday afternoon in the Pinstripe Bowl.

    Both teams struggled at times with the frigid conditions at Yankee Stadium following a snowstorm. The temperature at kickoff was 28 degrees and the wind chill made it feel like 19, while the snow from Friday’s storm was piled in the right and left field corners.

    In his seventh start since Penn State lost Drew Allar to an injury, Grunkemeyer completed 23 of 34 passes, setting career bests for completions and attempts.

    Matt Campbell is flipping commits and building out his staff at Penn State. Is bringing in D’Anton Lynn as DC next?

    His best throw was to Pena, who caught the ball at the Penn State 44, ran by Clemson safety Ricardo Jones and rumbled untouched down the left side for a 15-3 lead with 12:51 left in the fourth.

    Grunkemeyer also made a 35-yard throw to Devonte Ross to get the Nittany Lions deep into Clemson territory that set up an 11-yard TD toss to Andrew Rappleyea with 4:56 left for a 22-10 lead.

    Pena finished with five catches and 100 yards.

    Penn State’s defense held Clemson to just 10 points and 236 total yards.

    Before connecting with Pena, Grunkemeyer moved the Nittany Lions into field goal territory three times for Ryan Barker. Barker made a 22-yard field goal on Penn State’s first possession, along with a pair of 40-plus-yard kicks.

    Penn State (7-6) won its final four games under interim coach Terry Smith, who took over for James Franklin following a 22-21 loss to Northwestern on Oct. 11. He will be succeeded by Matt Campbell, who was hired on Dec. 8.

    Clemson’s Cade Klubnik completed 22 of 39 passes for 193 yards in his final collegiate game while getting sacked four times. He also had eight passes broken up by Penn State defenders.

    The Tigers scored their lone touchdown on Adam Randall’s 2-yard plunge with 8:47 left to slice Penn State’s lead to 15-10.

    Clemson (7-6) saw a four-game winning streak stopped and was held to its fewest points in a bowl game since a 24-6 loss to Alabama in the 2018 Sugar Bowl.

    Takeaways

    Penn State: Top running back Kaytron Allen did not play because of injury after being listed as questionable, leaving Quentin Martin as the best of the team’s remaining rushers. Martin entered the game with 32 career rushing yards and finished with 101 yards on 20 carries.

    Clemson: The Tigers struggled to get any traction with their ground game and were held to 43 rushing yards. It was their second-lowest total of the season behind a 31-yard showing in their season-opening loss to LSU.

    Up next

    Penn State: Open the Campbell era next season at home against Marshall.

    Clemson: Open the 2026 season at LSU with a new quarterback after the departure of Klubnik.

  • Matt Campbell is flipping commits and building out his staff at Penn State. Is bringing in D’Anton Lynn as DC next?

    Matt Campbell is flipping commits and building out his staff at Penn State. Is bringing in D’Anton Lynn as DC next?

    There is one more game separating Penn State from the Matt Campbell era, after the longtime Iowa State coach was hired by the program earlier this month.

    In one week, the transfer portal for college football will open, and Campbell’s staff at Penn State is starting to take shape, with several familiar names from the coach’s tenure in Ames, Iowa.

    Last week, Noah Pauley was named Penn State’s wide receivers coach and Jake Waters came aboard as the quarterbacks coach. The week before that, Taylor Mouser was announced as the offensive coordinator and tight ends coach, while Deon Broomfield (secondary) and Ryan Clanton (offensive line) also joined the staff.

    DeSean Jackson signs contract extension to remain Delaware State’s coach through 2028

    Much of the defensive staff must still be filled out, especially after Jon Heacock, who was expected to follow Campbell from Iowa State to Penn State, decided to retire. The Nittany Lions reportedly are interested in former letterman D’Anton Lynn, who has been the defensive coordinator at Southern Cal the past two seasons. Adding Lynn, whose defense this year ranked inside the top 50 in points and yards allowed, would help solidify a staff with a strong nucleus.

    Iowa State offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser will fill the same role at Penn State.

    Mouser’s offense at Iowa State was better statistically in 2024 than 2025, but this year was only his second season as the play caller. Clanton, who played at Oregon under Chip Kelly, has been successful developing offensive linemen. While at Northern Iowa, he was instrumental in helping Trevor Penning become a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft and aided Jalen Travis, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 draft, at Iowa State.

    Bloomfield has developed a couple of secondary players into NFL draft picks (T.J. Tampa in 2024, Darien Porter in 2025), while Pauley has similarly had success in the growth of his receivers, with Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins getting drafted earlier this year. Pauley also was key in Christian Watson’s development at North Dakota State.

    Penn State adds two Iowa State offensive coaches to Matt Campbell’s staff

    Waters, meanwhile, has worked closely the past two years with quarterback Rocco Becht, who recently entered the transfer portal.

    Campbell’s staff is a mix of experienced coaches and others who have transitioned from analysts to position coaches. But there has been plenty of staff turnover, even as interim coach Terry Smith was retained, along with assistant quarterbacks coach Trace McSorley.

    Among those who have departed are defensive line coach Deion Barnes, the North Philly native who was vital in developing the likes of Abdul Carter, Chop Robinson, and Odafe Oweh. Barnes took the same job at South Carolina, alongside former Temple coach Stan Drayton, who coached running backs at Penn State and will do the same for the Gamecocks as running backs coach and assistant head coach for offense.

    Former defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, also a Philly native, is heading to Tennessee at the same position, and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki is not returning next season, although he will coach in the Pinstripe Bowl. A few others followed James Franklin to Virginia Tech, including Ty Howle, Danny O’Brien, and Chuck Losey.

    While Campbell has brought in some of his own guys, he will need to continue to look externally to fill out the rest of his staff, which likely will happen over the next couple of weeks.

    Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht (3) was a player whom new Penn State quarterbacks coach Tyler Waters helped develop.

    Flipping commits and bringing in transfers

    Penn State signed just two players in the 2026 recruiting class, so it was natural that once Campbell was hired, that number would change. And it has in recent days.

    Offensive linemen Mason Bandhauer and Pete Eglitis were among the seven players who previously committed to Iowa State and flipped to Penn State, bringing their 2026 recruiting class to nine players and counting.

    And more reinforcements could be on the way via the transfer portal. Along with Becht, former Iowa State running back Carson Hansen and wide receivers Brett Eskildsen and Xavier Townsend have entered the portal.

    Becht seems like a natural fit in Happy Valley, considering his experience, familiarity with staff, and the high-profile nature of the games Penn State will play, though there will be a considerable number of suitors. The ex-Iowa State quarterback has thrown for over 9,000 yards and 64 touchdowns in 39 starts.

    Matt Campbell has one job: Rebuild Penn State’s national title hopes

    Campbell likely will try to reconnect with some of the players he coached at Iowa State, but he also will need to recruit the players currently on Penn State’s roster. A number of key contributors, including edge rusher Chaz Coleman and defensive backs A.J. Harris and Elliot Washington, headline those who have announced their intention to enter the portal. Several starters from the 2025 season also will be making the jump to the NFL.

    The new staff has its work cut out for them as they continue to build out the rest of the team for next year and beyond. But first, the rest of the staff remaining from the 2025 team will focus on beating Clemson on Saturday (noon, 6abc) to salvage what was a lost season in early October.

    Penn State running back Kaytron Allen (13) and interim coach Terry Smith will look to end the season on a high with a win over Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl.

    Games of the week

    Amid a holiday weekend of college football, there are two games with local flair certainly worth watching. Enjoy.

    Pinstripe Bowl: Penn State vs. Clemson (Saturday, noon, 6abc)

    It’s a chance for the Nittany Lions to end a rough year by their standards on a high note against a quality Power 5 opponent. Motivation? Penn State enters the game as three-point underdogs. It’s a test for fresh-faced Nittany Lions quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, but the must-watch player on offense will be in running back Kaytron Allen as he continues a season-ending climb to the top of the Big Ten history books. Fun fact: Despite being two of the oldest programs in college football, this will only be the second time these teams face off.

    Missouri quarterback and Spring-Ford alum Matt Zollers, left, will lead the Tigers in Saturday’s Gator Bowl.

    Gator Bowl: Virginia vs. Missouri (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. 6abc)

    Saturday will provide another chance to see Spring-Ford alumnus Matt Zollers lead the Missouri offense after Mizzou starting quarterback Beau Pribula announced his intent to leave the school. In six games this season, Zollers, the freshman backup, threw for 402 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception and won four of the six games in which he played. The Tigers hope he can keep that energy while entering the game as four-point favorites.

    Follow the Inquirer’s complete coverage of college sports right here!
  • Penn State adds two Iowa State offensive coaches to Matt Campbell’s staff

    Penn State adds two Iowa State offensive coaches to Matt Campbell’s staff

    STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State announced Thursday the addition of two offensive coaches who will join Matt Campbell in Happy Valley.

    Noah Pauley will serve as wide receivers coach and Jake Waters will be the quarterbacks coach. Both held the same titles at Iowa State this past season.

    Penn State adds Iowa State offensive coordinator and two assistants to Matt Campbell’s staff

    Noah Pauley, wide receivers coach

    Pauley spent the last three seasons as the Cyclones’ wide receivers coach and added passing game coordinator duties in 2025. The 36-year-old started as a receivers coach with Minnesota Duluth in 2016 before stops at North Dakota State and Iowa State in the same position.

    Pauley is known for his player development skills. At North Dakota State, he coached the Green Bay Packers’ Christian Watson from a two-star wide receiver to a second-round NFL draft pick.

    In 2024, Pauley developed the Texans’ Jayden Higgins, a two-star receiver, and Jaylin Noel, a three-star receiver, into second-and third-round picks, respectively. Under Pauley’s tutelage, Noel and Higgins became the first duo in Cyclones history to have 1,000-yard seasons in the same campaign.

    Pauley won the 2024 FootballScoop.com National Wide Receivers Coach of the Year for his work with Noel, Higgins, among others.

    Now, he joins a Penn State receiver room that has not produced an NFL draft pick since 2023.

    Jake Waters, quarterbacks coach

    Waters, an All-Big 12 quarterback at Kansas State in 2014, spent the last two seasons as Iowa State’s quarterbacks coach after serving the previous three as the Cyclones offensive quality control coach.

    In the 33-year-old’s first campaign as quarterbacks coach, the Cyclones scored the most offensive touchdowns (52) in a single season.

    Philly’s Tyreek Chappell overcame an injury to reach the College Football Playoff with Texas A&M

    Waters spent the last two seasons coaching Rocco Becht, QB who passed for more than 6,000 yards and 41 touchdowns under Waters’ tutelage. Becht, who has an additional year of eligibility, is considered a potential target for Penn State, should he enter the transfer portal.

    Waters replaces Danny O’Brien, who served as the Nittany Lions’ quarterbacks coach since 2021 before joining James Franklin’s staff at Virginia Tech in the same role. Trace McSorley, who played quarterback at Penn State from 2014-18 and was on Franklin’s staff as the assistant QBs coach in 2025, is expected to remain on Campbell’s staff, according to On3.

  • Penn State’s Kaytron Allen and Olaivavega Ioane named to AP All-American teams

    Penn State’s Kaytron Allen and Olaivavega Ioane named to AP All-American teams

    Four players from Ohio State are among 10 first-team picks from the Big Ten on The Associated Press All-America team released Monday, a group headed by repeat selection Caleb Downs of the Buckeyes and AP Player of the Year Fernando Mendoza of Indiana.

    The AP has named an All-America team every year since 1925, and Notre Dame’s two first-team picks this season increased its all-time lead to 87.

    Downs, the Big Ten defensive player of the year, has made the first team each of his two seasons at Ohio State after landing on the second team as a freshman at Alabama in 2023. He is one of 12 players on the 27-man first team who did not start their careers at their current school. Downs is joined on the first team by fellow Buckeyes Jeremiah Smith, Kayden McDonald and Arvell Reese.

    Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy over the weekend, led the top-ranked Hoosiers to a 13-0 record and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff after transferring from California. He has thrown a nation-leading 33 touchdown passes and is the catalyst of one of the most productive offenses in the country.

    A total of 18 schools are represented on the first team, including seven of the 12 in the CFP.

    Iowa has had at least one first-team player seven straight years and in 10 of the last 12. This is the fourth year in a row Miami, Notre Dame and Ohio State have had at least one.

    Punter Cole Maynard gave Western Kentucky its first-ever first-team pick. Defensive lineman Landon Robinson is Navy’s first since 1975 and kicker Kansei Matsuzawa is Hawaii’s first since 1986.

    First-team All-Americans (by conference)

    Big Ten — 10

    SEC — 6

    Big 12 — 3

    ACC — 1

    Independent — 3

    Conference USA — 2

    American — 1

    Mountain West — 1

    ___

    The AP All-America team was selected by a panel of 52 college Top 25 poll voters.

    First-team offense

    Wide receiver — Makai Lemon, Southern California, junior, 5-11, 195, Los Angeles.

    Wide receiver — Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State, sophomore, 6-3, 223, Miami Gardens, Fla.

    Wide receiver — Skyler Bell, Connecticut, senior, 6-0, 185, New York, N.Y.

    Tackle — Francis Mauigoa, Miami, junior, 6-6, 335, Ili’ili, American Samoa.

    Tackle — Spencer Fano, Utah, junior, 6-6, 308, Spanish Fork, Utah.

    Guard — Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon, senior, 6-5, 318, Denver.

    Guard — Beau Stephens, Iowa, senior, 6-5, 315, Blue Springs, Mo.

    Center — Logan Jones, Iowa, graduate, 6-3, 202, Council Bluffs, Iowa.

    Tight end — Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt, graduate, 6-4, 235, Denton, Texas.

    Quarterback — Fernando Mendoza, Indiana, junior, 6-5, 225, Miami.

    Running back — Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame, junior, 6-0, 214, St. Louis.

    Running back — Ahmad Hardy, Missouri, sophomore, 5-10, 210, Oma, Miss.

    Kicker — Kansei Matsuzawa, Hawaii, senior, 6-2, 200, Tokyo.

    All-purpose — KC Concepcion, Texas A&M, junior, 5-11, 190, Charlotte, N.C.

    First-team defense

    Edge rusher — David Bailey, Texas Tech, senior, 6-3, 250, Irvine, Calif.

    Edge rusher — Cashius Howell, Texas A&M, senior, 6-2, 248, Kansas City, Mo.

    Interior lineman — Kayden McDonald, Ohio State, junior, 6-3, 326, Suwanee, Ga.

    Interior lineman — Landon Robinson, Navy, senior, 6-0, 287, Fairlawn, Ohio.

    Linebacker — Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech, senior, 6-1, 235, Wichita Falls, Texas.

    Linebacker — Arvell Reese, Ohio State, junior, 6-4, 243, Cleveland.

    Linebacker — CJ Allen, Georgia, junior, 6-1, 235, Barnesville, Ga.

    Cornerback — Leonard Moore, Notre Dame, sophomore, 6-2, 195, Round Rock, Texas.

    Cornerback — Mansoor Delane, LSU, senior, 6-0, 190, Silver Spring, Md.

    Safety — Caleb Downs, Ohio State, junior, 6-0, 205, Hoschton, Ga.

    Safety — Bishop Fitzgerald, Southern California, senior, 5-11, 205, Woodbridge, Va.

    Defensive back — Jakari Foster, Louisiana Tech, senior, 6-0, 211, Piedmont, Ala.

    Punter — Cole Maynard, Western Kentucky, senior, 6-1, 180, Mooresville, N.C.

    Second-team offense

    Wide receiver — Carnell Tate, Ohio State, junior, 6-3, 195, Chicago.

    Wide receiver — Malachi Toney, Miami, freshman, 5-11, 188, Liberty City, Fla.

    Wide receiver — Danny Scudero, San Jose State, sophomore, 5-9, 174, San Jose, Calif.

    Tackle — Kadyn Proctor, Alabama, junior, 6-7, 366, Des Moines, Iowa.

    Tackle — Carter Smith, Indiana, junior, 6-5, 313, Powell, Ohio.

    Guard — Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State, junior, 6-4, 323, Graham, Wash.

    Guard — Ar’maj Reed-Adams, Texas A&M, graduate, 6-5, 325, Dallas.

    Center — Jake Slaughter, Florida, senior, 6-4, 303, Sparr, Fla.

    Tight end — Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon, junior, 6-3, 245, Idaho Falls, Idaho.

    Quarterback — Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt, graduate, 6-0, 207, Albuquerque, N.M.

    Running back — Emmett Johnson, Nebraska, junior, 5-11, 200, Minneapolis.

    Running back — Kewan Lacy, Mississippi, sophomore, 5-11, 210, Dallas.

    Kicker — Tate Sandell, Oklahoma, junior, 5-9, 182, Port Neches, Texas.

    All-purpose — Wayne Knight, James Madison, junior, 5-7, 190, Smyrna, Del.

    Second-team defense

    Edge rusher — Rueben Bain Jr., Miami, junior, 6-3, 270, Miami.

    Edge rusher — John Henry Daley, Utah, sophomore, 6-4, 255, Alpine, Utah.

    Interior lineman — A.J. Holmes Jr., Texas Tech, junior, 6-3, 300, Houston.

    Interior lineman — Peter Woods, Clemson, junior, 6-3, 310, Alabaster, Ala.

    Linebacker — Sonny Syles, Ohio State, senior, 6-5, 243, Pickerington, Ohio.

    Linebacker — Anthony Hill Jr., Texas, junior, 6-3, 238, Denton, Texas.

    Linebacker — Red Murdock, Buffalo, graduate, 6-1, 240, Petersburg, Va.

    Cornerback — D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana, junior, 5-9, 173, Miami.

    Cornerback — Chris Johnson, San Diego State, senior, 6-0, 195, Eastvale, Calif.

    Safety — Dillon Thieneman, Oregon, junior, 6-0, 205, Westfield, Indiana.

    Safety — Louis Moore, Indiana, senior, 5-11, 200, Mesquite, Texas.

    Defensive back — Hezekiah Masses, California, senior, 6-1, 185, Deerfield Beach, Fla.

    Punter — Brett Thorson, Georgia, senior, 6-2, 235, Melbourne, Australia.

    Third-team offense

    Wide receiver — Eric McAlister, TCU, senior, 6-3, 205, Azle, Texas.

    Wide receiver — Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee, junior, 6-5, 200, Midland, Texas.

    Wide receiver — Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State, junior, 6-2, 200, Allen, Texas.

    Tackle — Keagen Trost, Missouri, graduate, 6-4, 316, Kankakee, Ill.

    Tackle — Brian Parker II, Duke, junior, 6-5, 305, Cincinnati.

    Guard — Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech, senior, 6-4, 330, Royston, Ga.

    Guard — Evan Tengesdahl, Cincinnati, sophomore, 6-3, 320, Dayton, Ohio.

    Center — Iapani Laloulu, Oregon, junior, 6-2, 329, Honolulu.

    Tight end — Michael Trigg, Baylor, senior, 6-4, 240, Tampa, Fla.

    Quarterback — Julian Sayin, Ohio State, redshirt freshman, 6-1, 208, Carlsbad, Calif.

    Running back — Cam Cook, Jacksonville State, junior, 5-11, 200, Round Rock, Texas.

    Running back — Kaytron Allen, Penn State, senior, 5-11, 219, Norfolk, Va.

    Kicker — Aidan Birr, Georgia Tech, junior, 6-1, 205, Kennedale, Texas.

    All-purpose — Jadarian Price, Notre Dame, junior, 5-11, 210, Denison, Texas.

    Third-team defense

    Edge rusher — Caden Curry, Ohio State, senior, 6-3, 260, Greenwood, Ind.

    Edge rusher — Nadame Tucker, Western Michigan, senior, 6-3, 250, New York.

    Interior lineman — Tyrique Tucker, Indiana, junior, 6-0, 302, Norfolk, Va.

    Interior lineman — Lee Hunter, Texas Tech, senior, 6-4, 330, Mobile, Alabama.

    Linebacker — Aiden Fisher, Indiana, senior, 6-1, 231, Fredericksburg, Va.

    Linebacker — Caden Fordham, North Carolina State, graduate, 6-1, 230, Ponte Vedra, Fla.

    Linebacker — Owen Long, Colorado State, sophomore, 6-2, 230, Whittier, Calif.

    Cornerback — Avieon Terrell, Clemson, junior, 5-11, 180, Atlanta.

    Cornerback — Treydan Stukes, Arizona, senior, 6-2, 200, Litchfield Park, Ariz.

    Safety — Michael Taaffe, Texas, senior, 6-0, 189, Austin, Texas.

    Safety — Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo, senior, 6-2, 202, Tampa, Fla.

    Defensive back — Bray Hubbard, Alabama, junior, 6-2, 213, Ocean Springs, Miss.

    Punter — Ryan Eckley, Michigan State, junior, 6-2, 207, Lithia, Fla.

  • Penn State adds Iowa State offensive coordinator and two assistants to Matt Campbell’s staff

    Penn State adds Iowa State offensive coordinator and two assistants to Matt Campbell’s staff

    STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State introduced Matt Campbell on Monday as its head football coach, ending a 54-day search, and he has begun to build his staff, which includes several colleagues from Iowa State.

    Campbell, 46, spent the last 10 seasons at Iowa State, where he built the Cyclones into a perennial Big 12 contender and left as the program’s winningest coach.

    Here’s a look at who intends to join the Massillon, Ohio, native in Happy Valley.

    Taylor Mouser, offensive coordinator

    On Thursday, Mouser was added to the Penn State directory. He is listed as the offensive coordinator.

    In 2015, Mouser joined Campbell’s staff at Toledo as a graduate assistant before following him to Iowa State, where he served on his staff for the last 10 years. The 34-year-old had served as the Cyclones’ offensive coordinator since 2024 and tight ends coach since 2021.

    Reports: Penn State not retaining Jim Knowles, who’ll join Tennessee as defensive coordinator

    Under Mouser’s leadership, the Cyclones offense ranked No. 61 among Football Bowl Subdivision teams with 396.1 yards per game this season, 26 spots above the Nittany Lions’ 359.1.

    Mouser’s listing as offensive coordinator in the university’s directory means Andy Kotelnicki, Penn State’s current offensive coordinator, will likely move on in the coming weeks.

    Jon Heacock, defensive coordinator

    According to On3.com, Heacock will join Campbell’s staff at Penn State, although it is unclear whether he will retain his defensive coordinator title.

    Heacock brings 40 years of coaching experience to the Nittany Lions. He joined Campbell’s staff at Toledo as an assistant head coach and defensive coordinator in 2015 before following the head coach to Iowa State the following year.

    The 65-year-old served as the Cyclones’ defensive coordinator for the entirety of Campbell’s 10-year run in Ames, Iowa. Heacock is a four-time nominee and one-time finalist for the Broyles Award, which is given to the nation’s top assistant coach.

    In each of the last nine seasons under Heacock’s leadership, Iowa State has ranked in the top five in the Big 12 in scoring defense. In 2025, the Cyclones ranked No. 26 in scoring defense (20.17 points allowed per game).

    Deon Broomfield, secondary defensive coordinator

    Broomfield was added on Thursday to the Penn State directory. He is listed as secondary defensive coordinator.

    The 34-year-old started 18 games at defensive back for Iowa State from 2010-13. He joined Campbell’s staff in 2021 and has served as the Cyclones’ safeties coach since. He added the role of the team’s passing game coordinator in 2023.

    College Football Playoff controversy, Villanova’s tough task in FCS quarterfinals, and more

    Under Broomfield’s leadership in 2024, three of Iowa State’s safeties earned Big 12 recognition, with Malik Verdon, who now plays for the Falcons, named an All-Big 12 second-team performer.

    Ryan Clanton, offensive line

    Clanton joined Broomfield and Mouser in Penn State’s directory. He is listed as the team’s offensive line coach.

    Clanton, who played left tackle at Oregon from 2010-13, had served as Iowa State’s offensive line coach and run game coordinator since 2023. He coached Jalen Travis, who became the program’s first offensive lineman drafted into the NFL since 2013.

    In 2025, the Cyclones ranked No. 51 in rushing yards per game (174.7), a 19-spot improvement from Clanton’s first season in 2024.

    Clanton’s addition likely meant the departure of Phil Trautwein, Penn State’s longtime offensive line coach. Trautwein is intended to join Florida’s staff in the same position, according to ESPN.

    Trautwein won two national championships with the Gators (2006 and 2008) during his four-year career as a left tackle from 2004-08.

    Derek Hoodjer, general manager

    Campbell confirmed Monday the addition of Hoodjer, who had served as Iowa State’s associate athletic director for football personnel since 2023. He is listed as general manager in the Penn State directory.

    Hoodjer served as the Cyclones’ director of player personnel from 2018-22 before his promotion to associate AD for football personnel.

    Matt Campbell has one job: Rebuild Penn State’s national title hopes

    During Monday’s introductory news conference, Campbell called Hoodjer “an unbelievable general manager.” Now he will hold that same role in Happy Valley, where he will have a reported $30 million in name, image, and likeness funding, according to The Inside Zone, to build a championship roster.

    Other additions

    Reid Kagy, Iowa State’s director of football strength and conditioning, is following Campbell to Happy Valley. He is listed as head strength and conditioning coach in the Penn State directory.

    Kagy spent six seasons on the Cyclones’ staff, his most recent stint beginning in 2023.

    Jack Griffith was added Thursday to the Penn State directory as a recruiting assistant. He will serve as the program’s assistant general manager, according to CBS Sports.

    Griffith spent the previous three years as Cincinnati’s director of player personnel.

  • Reports: Penn State not retaining Jim Knowles, who’ll join Tennessee as defensive coordinator

    Reports: Penn State not retaining Jim Knowles, who’ll join Tennessee as defensive coordinator

    After one season as Penn State’s defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles will not be retained on new head coach Matt Campbell’s staff, according to several reports. The news was first reported by On3.com. But the 60-year-old defensive coordinator already has a new job lined up.

    According to CBS Sports, Knowles, a Philly native and St. Joseph’s Prep alum, will become Tennessee’s new defensive coordinator. Knowles spent three seasons at Ohio State before joining the Nittany Lions earlier this year. Now he’ll direct the defense at a third school over three seasons.

    Matt Campbell has one job: Rebuild Penn State’s national title hopes

    Penn State made Knowles the highest-paid coordinator in college football history with a three-year, $3.1 million deal on the heels of a national championship with the Buckeyes. He replaced Tom Allen, who departed for Clemson. Knowles’ unit at Ohio State was No. 1 in the country in yards allowed per game (254.6), points allowed (12.9), second in first downs allowed per game (15.1), and third in passing yards (167) and rushing yards per game (87.6).

    The longtime coordinator was viewed as the critical piece to help the Lions get over the hump this season in the College Football Playoff. That did not happen as Penn State’s defense took a significant step back compared to previous years. The Lions finished 34th nationally in total defense (334.3 yards), 37th in points allowed (21.4 points), and 72nd in rushing yards allowed per game (150.8). The defense also ranked 92nd in third down percentage (.416).

    Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles (left) and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki before the game against Nebraska on Nov. 22.

    Knowles has been a defensive coordinator at the Football Bowl Subdivision level since 2010. He spent eight seasons with Duke in that role before joining Oklahoma State in 2018. He spent four seasons in Stillwater before becoming the Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator in 2022.

    Tennessee moved on Monday from defensive coordinator Tim Banks, who was Penn State’s co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach from 2016-20. Banks spent five seasons as the Volunteers’ defensive coordinator, but he struggled in 2025 as the defense ranked 88th in total defense (395.5 yards) and 93rd in scoring (28.8 points).

    On3.com reported earlier this week that Campbell’s defensive coordinator at Iowa State, Jon Heacock, would join him in Happy Valley, but it’s unclear if he will be in the same role at Penn State. Heacock spent all 10 years running the Cyclones defense under Campbell.