Matt Campbell’s reputation at Iowa State was built on player development, and Penn State is already looking at a roster full of young names who could take a real jump under him.
Campbell spent 10 seasons in Ames and turned the Cyclones into a steady winner while sending plenty of talent to the NFL. That list included quarterback Brock Purdy, running backs David Montgomery and Breece Hall, wideouts Hakeem Butler, Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins, defensive linemen Eyioma Uwazarike, Will McDonald and Domonique Orange, and tight end Charlie Kolar.
Even with that track record, Iowa State was never a place loaded with elite high school prospects. That’s part of why Penn State’s young talent could be such a focal point this fall.
One of the names to watch is Alijah Carnell. The redshirt sophomore defensive tackle played in 11 games last season and came to college from Bishop Gorman in Nevada as a consensus three-star prospect in the 2024 class. At 6-5 and 299 pounds, he is part of a large Iowa State transfer group and is fighting for a prominent role in the rotation.
Another transfer from that same pipeline is Cooper Alexander, a 6-4, 241-pound tight end entering his third season. He’s also the son of former NFL tight end Stephen Alexander.
Tight end is already crowded, with veterans Ben Brahmer, Andrew Rappleyea and Gabe Burkle sitting at the top of the depth chart, but offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser likes using multiple tight ends. That gives Alexander a path to climb into the top three by season’s end.
Penn State’s tackle competition is crowded too, and Owen Aliciene is right in the middle of it. The redshirt freshman was a four-star signee in the 2025 class and appeared in one game.
At 6-7 and 303 pounds, he was probably headed for a redshirt with Drew Shelton and Nolan Rucci ahead of him, but he has a chance to push for a starting job or at least the No. 3 spot. The room also includes Anthony Donkoh, Malachi Goodman and Garrett Sexton.
Amarion Jackson is another young player who drew attention in the spring. The true freshman wide receiver, listed at 6-2 and 192 pounds, started spring drills at safety before switching to offense.
Campbell was especially high on what he saw. “Amarion, I don’t know if there’s a true freshman that’s had a bigger spring than what he has (had),” Campbell said.
Then there’s Jackson Ford, a defensive end who already looks the part at 6-5 and 264 pounds. He’s viewed as one of the top prospects in Penn State’s 2026 recruiting class and starred at Malvern Prep in Pennsylvania. The defensive end group has plenty of talent, but most of it is still young, which gives Ford a real shot to carve out a rotation role if he keeps it rolling in August and early in the season.
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Goodman enters the battle with plenty of buzz after redshirting in 2025 and turning heads in practice, which has only added to the sense that he could be ready for a bigger role. Even so, the job is not being handed out before camp has had its say, and the other candidates give Penn State some real options as it tries to protect the edge and build stability up front. For a team with bigger goals ahead, this is the kind of position fight that can quietly shape much more than one side of the line. [Read more 🡒]