Penn State has reportedly identified Matt Campbell of Iowa State as its next leader, coming in after the program’s dismissal of James Franklin. With Campbell set to lead the Nittany Lions, the focus shifts to roster building, especially since only two players were signed in the early 2026 recruiting window. The 2025 Penn State squad leaned heavy on seniors, with 34 players honored on Senior Day and many already exhausted their eligibility. Anticipate a wave of underclassmen entering the transfer portal as the team retools.
Campbell will need to move quickly and creatively once the transfer window opens on January 2. He’s expected to pursue a substantial number of his former Cyclones teammates, as well as several members from Iowa State’s 2026 signing class (22 total signees). Equally important will be efforts to retain select underclassmen from Penn State’s 2025 roster who could contribute immediately.
Below is a look at several Cyclones—both current players and 2026 signees—who could become immediate fits for Penn State in the upcoming season.
Redshirt junior quarterback Rocco Becht
The quarterback position will be a primary talking point for Campbell as he reassembles the roster and coaching staff. While Penn State has seen promise from redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer, Becht brings three seasons of starter experience from Iowa State. Standing 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, Becht earned second-team All-America honors and was the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2023, followed by an honorable mention on the All-Big 12 list in 2024. This season he threw for an average of 215.3 yards per game with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions, a season that featured the loss of key receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Becht’s early career numbers were stronger, with over 240 passing yards per game and a combined 48 TDs to 17 interceptions in 2023-2024. He’s also shown athletic versatility with 19 rushing touchdowns across his college tenure.
Junior running backs Carson Hanson and Abu Sama III
Hanson and Sama formed a productive backfield for Iowa State, providing Campbell potential depth and reliability. Hanson totaled 950 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 5.1 yards per carry, while Sama added 732 yards and five scores on 5.2 yards per carry. The Cyclones finished 51st nationally in rushing thanks to this duo. Hanson broke out in 2024 with 752 yards and 13 touchdowns. Sama has consistently produced since arriving in 2023, posting 614 and 587 yards in his first two collegiate years. While Sama has been more of a runner, Hanson has contributed as a receiver as well, with at least 11 receptions for 88 yards in each season. Hanson earned All-Big 12 second-team honors this year.
Junior tight end Benjamin Brahmer
Penn State values strong tight ends, and Brahmer fits that mold for Campbell as well. A massive presence at 6-7 and 255 pounds, Brahmer has been a central figure for Iowa State, especially outside of a season-shortening injury in 2024. He was a freshman All-American in 2023 and earned All-Big 12 honorable mention twice. This past season he joined Hanson on the all-conference second team. In 2025 Brahmer delivered a career-best with 37 receptions, 446 yards, and six touchdowns.
Sophomore defensive back Marcus Neal Jr.
Iowa State’s defense benefited from a strong secondary, with Neal playing a pivotal role. The Cyclones ranked 27th in scoring defense in 2025, and Neal earned third-team All-Big 12 honors. The Kansas City native tied for the team lead with 77 tackles, adding two interceptions, three pass breakups, and a forced fumble.
Redshirt junior defensive back Jontez Williams
Williams may be Iowa State’s best all-around defensive back, a claim supported by efficiency metrics rather than gaudy stat lines. Targeted only 15 times in coverage, he allowed just eight receptions and was rated the Cyclones’ top defender for the season. A Florida native who has appeared in every Iowa State game since redshirting in 2022, Williams earned second-team All-Big 12 recognition in 2024. He finished with 15 tackles, one interception, and three pass breakups.
Junior linebacker Kooper Ebel
Ebel logged 77 tackles, tying Neal for the team lead, and broke up three passes this season. His performance provides a veteran presence on a defense that could benefit from an established 3-3-5 scheme under a Campbell-led staff that includes Jon Heacock. Ebel previously posted a 69-tackle season in 2024 and has shown steady production.
Redshirt junior wide receiver Chase Sowell
Sowell has carved out a unique college journey, having played for three schools at different times and redshirting due to injury at Colorado before stints at East Carolina and Iowa State. He finished among the Cyclones’ receiving leaders with 500 yards and two touchdowns. A big receiver at 6-3 and 210 pounds, Sowell had a standout past at East Carolina, totaling 81 receptions for 1,300 yards and four touchdowns in his time there.
Sophomore wide receiver Brett Eskildsen
Eskildsen emerged as a key contributor for Campbell in 2025, leading the Cyclones in receiving. He posted 30 receptions for 526 yards and five touchdowns as a first-year starter. A three-star prospect from Frisco, Texas, Eskildsen brought immediate impact to the offense.
2026 4-star wide receiver Jeffrey Roberts
Campbell is expected to rely on several 2026 signees, and Roberts stands out as the highest-rated among them at No. 417 in the composite rankings. Roberts hails from Ames, Iowa, within Iowa State’s recruitment footprint, which could complicate transfer dynamics. He finished high school with 117 receptions for 2,519 yards and 31 touchdowns. At 6 feet tall and 180 pounds, Roberts offers potential as a polished target to bolster Penn State’s receiving corps.
2026 3-star defensive end Elijah Reeder
Reeder comes from New Jersey and is another top-500 signee in Campbell’s 2026 class. In his senior year at Central Regional High School, he registered 50 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and eight sacks. Securing a top-500 prospect from the regional pipeline would strengthen Penn State’s pass-rush and add immediate depth on the edge.
Strategic implications
Campbell will need to quickly cultivate relationships across Pennsylvania and neighboring states to land in-state and regional targets, while also leveraging the transfer portal to reinforce the roster. A balanced approach—integrating immediate contributors from Iowa State with promising 2026 signees—could help Penn State stabilize the depth chart and maintain competitiveness while the new staff implements its system.
If this plan plays out, it will raise questions about program identity, player development, and the best path to sustained success in a changing landscape. Should Penn State prioritize proven, older contributors who can plug-and-play this season, or invest in long-term potential with younger signees who grow into leaders over time? Share your thoughts in the comments: should the emphasis be on immediate impact or building a future-ready core? And what other Cyclones or 2026 recruits would you add to this target list?
