Penn State just added a new name to its quarterback room - and it’s one that brings both experience and production. Connor Barry, a Division III All-American, is heading to Happy Valley after committing to the Nittany Lions following an official visit.
Barry’s journey to Penn State has been anything but conventional, but it’s one that speaks to his resilience and ability to produce wherever he goes. He began his college career at Appalachian State before transferring to Christopher Newport University in his home state of Virginia.
There, he didn’t just put up numbers - he rewrote the school’s record books. Over 22 starts, Barry threw for 5,561 yards and 55 touchdowns, while also adding 596 rushing yards and 18 scores on the ground.
That dual-threat ability, even at the Division III level, is what caught the attention of Penn State’s staff.
“I believe in what Penn State is building right now with coach Matt Campbell and the staff,” Barry said. “It’s a high-level program with a strong culture.”
Barry’s 2025 season was his best yet. He earned second-team All-American honors and finished second in the nation in passing efficiency. Add in two all-conference selections and a conference Offensive Player of the Year award, and it’s clear he’s not just a stat-stuffer - he’s been a leader and a difference-maker at every stop.
Now, he steps into a quarterback room that’s been reshaped by both departures and additions. With Rocco Becht - the Iowa State transfer - expected to take over as the starter in 2026, Penn State was looking for someone with experience to compete for the backup job.
Barry fits that bill. He’ll battle with another former Cyclone in Alex Manske, a four-star recruit who’s still early in his college career, along with true freshmen Peyton Falzone and Kase Evans.
Quarterbacks coach Jake Waters led the charge in recruiting Barry through the portal, with assistant quarterbacks coach Trace McSorley also involved in the process. For Barry, the message from Penn State’s staff was clear: come in, compete, and raise the level of the room.
“His message has been really direct,” Barry said of Waters. “They’re looking for someone to come in and compete right away for that backup role and I’m excited about that opportunity because I feel like I can bring value to the room and push the standard every day.”
Barry praised the transparency and communication from Waters, saying, “Coach Waters has been really transparent with me from the beginning. He shoots it straight and I respect that a lot.
I like the way he communicates and the way he talks about the position. You can tell he loves football and really cares about his guys.”
This is just the latest move in what’s been an aggressive offseason for Matt Campbell and his staff in the transfer portal. The Nittany Lions have had to reload at quarterback after losing Ethan Grunkemeyer (Virginia Tech), Jaxon Smolik (Temple), and 2025 signee Bekkem Kritza to the portal. With Drew Allar off to the NFL, the room needed both depth and experience - and Barry gives them a bit of both.
As it stands, Penn State owns the fifth-best transfer portal class in the country, per the 247Sports Team Composite. And with Barry now in the mix, the Nittany Lions have added a proven leader who’s ready to compete and contribute right away.