Penn State’s offense is about to get a serious jolt of energy - and aggression - under new offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser. After parting ways with Andy Kotelnicki, head coach Matt Campbell is bringing in one of his most trusted lieutenants to run the show in Happy Valley. Mouser, who’s been with Campbell since their Toledo days, is stepping into the spotlight with a reputation for bold play-calling and a vertical passing game that turned heads at Iowa State.
So, who is Taylor Mouser, and what can Nittany Lions fans expect? According to a pair of his former Cyclone stars - now both in the NFL - the answer is simple: buckle up.
“Coach uses the expression that it’s a ‘let your nuts hang’ offense,” said Jayden Higgins, now with the Houston Texans. “We’re going to go out there and try to score points. He’s not holding anything back.”
That’s not just locker-room bravado. Mouser’s system is built to attack.
It’s aggressive, it’s fearless, and it’s designed to put playmakers in position to take over games. Jaylin Noel, Higgins’ Iowa State teammate and fellow Texans draftee, called it “a very fun system,” adding, “Even if he doesn’t have talent, he’s going to make things happen.”
And Mouser did just that in Ames.
After years of grinding behind the scenes - from grad assistant at Toledo to tight ends coach at Iowa State - Mouser took over play-calling duties ahead of the 2024 season. The result?
Iowa State's first-ever 11-win campaign and a trip to the Big 12 Championship Game. That success didn’t come by accident.
It came with a heavy dose of downfield passing, creative scheming, and a willingness to take risks - the kind that separate the good from the great.
Mouser’s offense helped turn Higgins and Noel into the most productive receiver duo in Cyclones history. Both topped 1,000 yards in 2024 - Higgins with 1,183 and nine touchdowns, Noel with 1,194 and eight scores.
That kind of production didn’t just get them drafted; it got them drafted early. Higgins went in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Noel followed in the third.
But both players point to Mouser’s confidence and play design as a major reason why they thrived.
“He’s looking to let the big-play players make big-time plays,” Higgins said. “He’s going to put his guys in a situation to perform.”
“He’s going to take shots down the field,” Noel added. “He’s going to get his playmakers the ball and let those guys go to work. He’s fearless, honestly.”
That fearlessness shows up in the numbers - and for Penn State fans frustrated with the conservative nature of the offense under Kotelnicki, Mouser’s approach could be a breath of fresh air.
Under Kotelnicki, nearly one in five of Drew Allar’s throws (18.6%) came behind the line of scrimmage, according to PFF. That’s a lot of horizontal passing.
In contrast, only 9.3% of Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht’s attempts under Mouser were behind the line. That’s a clear philosophical shift - one that prioritizes pushing the ball vertically and trusting receivers to make plays downfield.
Over the past two seasons, Becht attempted 102 passes of 20-plus yards - averaging 3.9 deep shots per game. Allar, by comparison, averaged just 2.6. Mouser’s not dialing it up like Joe Moorhead did during the Trace McSorley days (5.7 deep attempts per game in 2016), but make no mistake: this offense wants to stretch the field.
And it’s not just about volume - it’s about efficiency. In 2024, Becht completed 44.7% of his deep throws, ranking 11th among 83 FBS quarterbacks with at least 40 such attempts.
That’s not just chucking it and hoping. That’s calculated aggression with results to back it up.
Of course, having Higgins and Noel on the outside helps. But Mouser’s system is designed to elevate talent, not just rely on it. Now it’ll be up to new wide receivers coach Noah Pauley - who also made the move from Iowa State - to develop the next wave of explosive playmakers in State College.
The blueprint is there. The confidence is real. And if Mouser brings the same energy and execution to Penn State that he did at Iowa State, the Nittany Lions’ offense could be in for a serious transformation.
“He’s not scared to make a big call in big moments,” Noel said. “He’s willing to do things others might not be willing to do, and he lives with his calls.
He has full confidence in himself. He has full confidence in his players.
You feed off that energy. … That’s what makes him special.”
And it’s exactly the kind of edge that could make Penn State’s offense something special, too.