Penn State has finally found its next leader, identifying Iowa State’s Matt Campbell as head coach after firing James Franklin.
Now Campbell and the Nittany Lions, who signed just two players in the early 2026 recruiting window, will have to figure out how to fill their roster.
Penn State’s 2025 team was loaded with seniors. Thirty-four players were honored on Senior Day, and many of them have already exhausted their eligibility. You can count on plenty of underclassmen departing via the transfer portal, too.
Thus, Campbell will have to get to work quickly and be creative. The transfer portal opens on Jan. 2 for all teams. He will surely look to bring in many of his former Cyclones players and some of Iowa State’s 22 class of 2026 signees.
Campbell should also prioritize retaining some of Penn State’s young talent from the 2025 team.
But for now, let’s dive into a few key Cyclones — current and future — whom Penn State should target for next season.
Redshirt junior quarterback Rocco Becht
Campbell will have plenty of big decisions to make as he fills out his staff and roster next season, but perhaps none will be bigger than what he chooses to do at quarterback.
Redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer established himself as a promising option in place of the injured Drew Allar for Penn State, but Campbell has had Becht as his Cyclones starter for three seasons.
In that time, Becht — 6-1 and 210 pounds — has impressed. He earned second-team All-America and Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors in 2023. He was also an all-Big 12 honorable mention in 2024.
Becht threw for 215.33 yards per game this season with 16 touchdowns to nine interceptions, his worst marks as a starter. He notably lost NFL second- and third-round picks Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel at wide receiver over the offseason. Becht was far more efficient in 2023 and 2024, throwing for more than 240 yards per game with 48 touchdowns to 17 interceptions.
Occasionally a threat to run, Becht has also amassed 19 career rushing scores.
Iowa State’s quarterback Rocco Becht throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA football college game against Cincinnati, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)AP
Junior running backs Carson Hanson and Abu Sama III
They may not quite be Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton, but Iowa State had a strong duo in the backfield this season.
Hanson picked up 950 yards and six touchdowns on 5.1 yards per carry, while Sama went for 732 and five scores on 5.2 yards per tote. The Cyclones finished 51st nationally in rushing behind those two.
Hanson broke out in 2024 with 752 yards and 13 touchdowns. Sama, meanwhile, has been highly productive since enrolling in 2023, posting 614 and 587 yards in his freshman and sophomore years.
Sama has not done much as a receiver, but Hanson has caught at least 11 passes for 88 yards in each of his three seasons.
Hanson was named All-Big 12 second-team this year.
Junior tight end Benjamin Brahmer
Penn State loves its tight ends, and so did Iowa State and Campbell.
Brahmer is a massive 6-7 and 255 pounds, and he’s been a massive key for Iowa State outside of a season-shortening injury in 2024. He was a freshman All-American in 2023 and was twice and All-Big 12 honorable mention. He joined Hanson as all-conference second-team nominees this past season.
Brahmer had by far his best campaign in 2025. The Pierce, Nebraska, native hauled in 37 receptions for 446 yards and a team-high six touchdowns.
Sophomore defensive back Marcus Neal Jr.
Iowa State’s defense was 27th in scoring in 2025, but the Cyclones were among the nation’s worst pass rushers, so a strong secondary was key in overall success.
Neal was a primary factor, earning third-team All-Big 12 marks.
The Kansas City, Missouri, product tied for the team lead with 77 tackles while also adding two interceptions, three pass breakups and a forced fumble.
Iowa State defensive back Marcus Neal (31) celebrates with teammates on the bench after making an interception during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Kansas, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State won 38-14. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney) APAP
Redshirt junior defensive back Jontez Williams
Williams may have been Iowa State’s best defensive back, even though the stats don’t show it. And there’s a reason why they don’t.
Williams was targeted 15 times in coverage, according to PFF, and allowed just eight receptions. He also graded as the Cyclones’ top defender on the year.
Williams, from Florida, has played in every Iowa State game since redshirting in 2022. He was a second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2024.
The 5-11 DB made 15 tackles with an interception and three pass breakups this year.
Junior linebacker Kooper Ebel
Ebel tied with Neal with 77 tackles.
If Campbell brings longtime defensive coordinator Jon Heacock with him the Happy Valley, it would help to have a veteran with experience in the 3-3-5 scheme to lead the way.
Ebel also broke up three passes this season.
His strong numbers backed up a 69-tackle season in 2024.
Redshirt junior wide receiver Chase Sowell
Sowell has already played at three different schools in his career, redshirting due to injury at Colorado before two years at East Carolina and one season with the Cyclones.
He finished second among Iowa State receivers with 500 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns.
A big body at 6-3 and 210 pounds, Sowell made 81 receptions for 1,300 yards and four scores at East Carolina.
Iowa State wide receiver Brett Eskildsen (9) catches the ball against the Oklahoma State during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Stillwater, Okla. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong) APAP
Sophomore wide receiver Brett Eskildsen
Sowell was a big-name transfer for Campbell last year, but Eskildsen actually led the Cyclones in 2025.
He made 30 catches for 526 yards and five touchdowns in his first year as a starter.
Eskildsen was a three-star prospect out of Frisco, Texas.
2026 4-star wide receiver Jeffrey Roberts
Campbell may look to bring many of his 2026 signees with him to Happy Valley. Just two of them were top-500 prospects, according to the 247Sports Composite. Roberts is the highest rated at No. 417.
This one may be a tough sell, as Roberts is from Ames, Iowa, in the Cyclones’ backyard. But his recruitment didn’t stem far beyond Iowa State, so his relationship with Campbell must be strong.
Penn State needs wide receivers. Roberts is an intriguing prospect at 6-foot and 180 pounds.
According to Iowa State’s signing day materials, Roberts finished his high school days with 117 receptions for 2,519 yards and 31 touchdowns.
2026 3-star defensive end Elijah Reeder
Iowa State’s only other top-500 signee, Reeder hails from the recruiting footprint for Penn State.
The New Jersey standout recorded 50 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and eight sacks in his senior year at Central Regional High School.
Campbell will need to quickly build up his relationship in Pennsylvania and its bordering states, and getting a top-500 player in this cycle would be a nice win.
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