Since arriving in Happy Valley, Matt Campbell hasn’t wasted any time putting his stamp on the Penn State program. The former Iowa State head coach brought much of his Cyclones infrastructure with him-including both coordinators-and has already flipped four recruits from his old stomping grounds.
The next domino could be redshirt junior quarterback Rocco Becht, a familiar face who knows Campbell’s system inside and out. But while Becht could bring some stability to a team in transition, Penn State would be wise not to close the door on the booming transfer portal quarterback market just yet.
Becht had a solid campaign in 2025, throwing for 2,500 yards and 16 touchdowns. He’s a tough, instinctive runner with a dependable arm and a reputation as a gamer-someone who competes hard and makes plays.
But if we’re talking about elevating Penn State into the thick of the Big Ten title race, especially with programs like Oregon and Indiana reportedly chasing high-profile quarterbacks, Becht may not be the guy to take them there. He regressed statistically from his breakout 2024 season, when he had the benefit of throwing to standout receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.
Without elite physical tools to consistently challenge top-tier Big Ten defenses, Becht might offer more of a steady hand than a game-changer.
That’s not to say he wouldn’t be valuable in 2026. This could be a bridge year for Campbell-a season to lay the foundation for what’s to come.
In that context, a quarterback like Becht, who knows the offense and brings leadership to the huddle, could be exactly what the program needs to stay afloat while it builds for the future. But if Penn State wants to accelerate that rebuild, it has to look beyond familiarity and explore every option at the game’s most important position.
And those options are starting to heat up.
The transfer portal doesn’t officially open until January 2, but the quarterback carousel is already spinning. On Monday, former five-star prospects DJ Lagway and Dylan Raiola announced they’ll be entering the portal, along with Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby. They join an already stacked list of available quarterbacks that includes Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt and Michigan State’s Aidan Chiles.
And that’s just the beginning. Several other quarterbacks-like North Texas’s Drew Mestemaker and NC State’s CJ Bailey-haven’t made their moves public yet but are widely expected to test the waters.
If they do, and a few more surprises join them, the portal could offer one of the deepest quarterback classes we’ve seen in years. For a program like Penn State, which is searching for its next leader under center, that’s a golden opportunity.
Of course, landing a top-tier transfer quarterback doesn’t come cheap. Last year, Carson Beck reportedly secured a $4 million NIL package to leave Georgia for Miami, setting the bar for what a proven QB can command.
That number could be topped this offseason, especially with names like Lagway, Raiola, and Leavitt in the mix. But Penn State should be in the financial ballpark.
Despite shelling out $9 million to buy out James Franklin’s contract, the Nittany Lions aren’t carrying a 2026 recruiting class of significance, which gives Campbell and general manager Derek Hoodjer-who also made the move from Ames-some financial flexibility to make a splash in the portal.
To be clear, Penn State wouldn’t be in bad shape with Becht or even returning freshman starter Ethan Grunkemeyer under center next fall. Both are capable, and either could help steady the ship in Year One of the Campbell era. But if the goal is to make noise in the new-look Big Ten-where the margins are razor-thin and the quarterback play can swing a season-then Campbell and Hoodjer owe it to themselves to at least explore the top of the market.
There’s a rare chance here to land a quarterback who doesn’t just manage games but transforms an offense. That kind of player could fast-track the rebuild and put Penn State right back in the national conversation. And in today’s college football landscape, where the right quarterback can change everything overnight, that’s a door you don’t want to close too early.