Penn State’s 2026 tight end room has another name with Iowa State roots, and Cooper Alexander arrives in State College with a chance to make that connection count.
Alexander is a redshirt sophomore from Washington, Oklahoma, who spent two seasons with the Cyclones before joining Penn State. At 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds, he brings the kind of frame the Nittany Lions have usually liked at the position, along with a season of game action that should help him settle in quickly.
His 2025 numbers at Iowa State were modest, but they still gave him a foothold. Alexander appeared in 11 games and finished with five catches for 47 yards.
He opened his receiving ledger against Arkansas State with a 14-yard grab, then added two receptions for 17 yards against BYU. He also had one catch against Arizona State and closed with an 18-yard reception against Kansas.
The usage data from Pro Football Focus shows a player who was involved in more than just the passing game. Alexander played 77 receiving snaps in 2025 and was targeted eight times, turning five of those into catches for an average of 9.4 yards per reception. Overall, he logged 182 offensive snaps, including 118 blocking snaps.
That blocking work matters in a Penn State tight end room that has long been built around versatility. Alexander’s blocking production at Iowa State was uneven, but the experience itself should help as he adjusts to Matt Campbell’s staff.
Before college, Alexander was a standout at Washington High School for coach Brad Beller. He helped Washington win back-to-back 15-0 state championship seasons as a junior and senior, and as a senior he caught 32 passes for 491 yards and eight touchdowns.
Penn State does have options at tight end, but Alexander’s size, experience and familiarity with the new staff’s offensive approach give him a real opening. Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser’s emphasis on tight ends only strengthens that path.
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