Matt Campbell didn’t waste any time getting to work at Penn State. Just a day after landing his first commitment as the Nittany Lions’ new head coach, he’s added another familiar face to the mix - and this one’s a quarterback.
Kase Evans, a 2026 signal-caller and former Iowa State commit, announced he’s following Campbell to Happy Valley. The Texas native made his decision public after being released from his National Letter of Intent, which he originally signed with Iowa State during the Early Signing Period.
Evans’ recruitment has been a winding road. He first committed to Oklahoma State back in June, but that changed quickly after the firing of longtime head coach Mike Gundy in September.
Just days after that news broke, Evans reopened his recruitment. That’s when Campbell - still at Iowa State at the time - swooped in with an offer.
By October, Evans was on board with the Cyclones and made it official with his NLI in December.
But when Campbell made the jump from Ames to State College, Evans reconsidered. After securing his release, he’s now set to join the Nittany Lions, giving Campbell a familiar face under center as he starts building out his first full recruiting class at Penn State.
With Evans in the fold, Penn State now has six commitments in the 2026 high school class. Two of those players have already signed, both of whom were originally recruited by former head coach James Franklin.
It’s still early in Campbell’s tenure, and while the high school class is taking shape, the real action may be just around the corner. The transfer portal opens on January 2, and with Campbell’s reputation and relationships, don’t be surprised if a wave of talent follows him to Happy Valley.