Matt Campbell’s first offseason at Penn State is already showing up in a big way on the NFL radar.
The latest 2027 Shriners Children’s East-West Bowl watch list includes 19 Nittany Lions, a haul that ties Penn State with Ohio State for the most selections in the Big Ten. The list features 1,000 of the top players eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft, and Penn State’s heavy presence says plenty about how quickly Campbell reshaped the roster.
Even more telling: 15 of those 19 players came through the Transfer Portal, with Campbell bringing them in from Iowa State. That group includes linebacker Caleb Bacon, quarterback Rocco Becht, tight end Benjamin Brahmer, offensive guard Trevor Buhr, tight end Gabe Burkle, cornerback Jeremiah Cooper, linebacker Kooper Ebel, wide receiver Brett Eskildsen, edge rusher Ikenna Ezeogu, running back Carson Hansen, safety Marcus Neal Jr., offensive lineman/center Brock Riker, wide receiver Chase Sowell, interior defensive lineman Siale Taupaki, and interior defensive lineman Keanu Williams.
The only two on the list who didn’t arrive from Iowa State are Taupaki and Williams. Both were at UCLA in 2025 with new Penn State defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn before landing in Happy Valley. The other 13 followed Campbell from Ames.
That kind of immediate recognition is why the offseason was so productive for Penn State. Campbell had to lean on the portal, and he did it in a way that clearly caught the attention of NFL evaluators. In other words, he did James Franklin’s favorite thing: “Winning the offseason”.
Not every name on the list is guaranteed to be a one-and-done. Buhr, Donkoh, Eskildsen, Neal Jr., and Riker are all eligible to return after the 2026 season, and whether they head to the draft will depend on how they perform this fall. If Penn State can get that kind of talent back, it only strengthens the roster for what comes next.
Still, the bigger picture is clear. For one year, Campbell’s portal-heavy approach was necessary, and it worked. The next step is turning that into something more stable so Penn State isn’t depending on transfers to supply elite talent every offseason.
These players will get a chance to keep building their cases in practices and in the bowl game on Feb. 4, 2027, where NFL coaches, scouts, and front office personnel will be watching closely.
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