Penn State is only a few weeks from its Sept. 5 opener against Marshall, and the picture in camp is starting to sharpen. With about two weeks left before the Lions shift into Week 1 prep, Saturday’s scrimmage in Beaver Stadium will serve as the first real measuring stick for some of the names that have turned heads early.
One of the clearest camp wins so far has been the return of redshirt freshman quarterback Manske. Penn State did not know what to expect after he missed spring drills because of what Matt Campbell described as a medical condition, but he was cleared to practice in early July, something Campbell called “monumental” for the team. Since then, Manske has looked sharp and comfortable.
“From not playing for a long time since last season, these are really his first reps,” quarterbacks coach Jake Waters said. “But he [has] command of the offense.
It wasn't moving too fast, which you expect a little bit. You're off for a long time, you get thrown into it and it starts to go.”
That development matters because it eases some of the concern around the depth chart behind Rocco Becht. Before Manske returned, quarterback looked like Penn State’s most fragile spot. Now, Campbell and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser have a lot more confidence in the room.
Tight end Rappleyea has also forced his way into the conversation. Campbell and Mouser already knew what he could do from last season’s film - a 6-4 blocker who can bulldoze in the run game and still finish plays with hands at the back of the end zone. But camp has shown there’s more to him.
“Rappleyea's a guy that I had high expectations for, just seeing what he did last year and what his skill set is,” Mouser said. “But he was hurt all spring, he was hurt all summer, just rehabbing and getting back.
And now he's as healthy as I've seen him. He's so athletic and so twitchy, and has brought so much energy to our offense.”
At receiver, Eskildsen has gone from under-the-radar to one of the more obvious August standouts. Campbell, Mouser and Becht already knew him from his 30 catches for the Cyclones last year, but with limited spring work, he didn’t get much attention until camp opened. The 6-1 Texas receiver has stood out for his speed, separation and reliable hands, including a one-handed deep grab in tight coverage against cornerback Audavion Collins early in camp.
Eskildsen also became the first Penn State receiver to make Bruce Feldman's college football “Freaks List,” and receivers coach Kashif Moore said he is close to running 24 mph. For a fan base that has heard plenty about the receiver situation, that kind of buzz counts for a lot.
The competition at left tackle is still very much alive, too. Redshirt freshman Malachi Goodman entered camp as the front-runner after spring ball, but Garrett Sexton and Owen Aliciene are still pushing hard, and offensive line coach Ryan Clanton is keeping the pressure on. Goodman, the only 5-star recruit on Penn State’s roster, is viewed as the future at the position, but the battle is the most contested on the roster.
“The biggest thing with [Goodman] is power and athleticism at the same time,” Clanton said. “We've really been working on him to really uncoil to run through defenders, not to defenders.
But I think he's been doing a great job. He's not a guy that you want to stand in front of in blocking drills.”
Another name making noise is Peyton Falzone, a 3-star quarterback in Penn State’s 2026 recruiting class. He shifted to tight end about a week into camp and had two strong days last week at the new spot. Before that move, Jake Waters said Falzone stayed in his room while he worked on the new details of the position.
Campbell sounded especially encouraged by what he has seen so far, suggesting the move could last beyond a temporary experiment.
“I’m proud of him,” Campbell said. “He's done a great job.
It's only been two days, and it will be a work in progress. That's not an easy move to make, but when you talk about athleticism, he had a couple big catches [Wednesday] and had a couple big catches again [Thursday], so we’re really excited about what his future entails.”
There are other young players trending up as well. Receiver Amarion Jackson is continuing to build on the momentum he started in spring practice, and redshirt freshman receiver Zay Robinson, a 5-11 transfer from Iowa State, is also growing his profile as a playmaker.
On defense, safety Josiah Zayas has emerged as an interesting piece in a deep secondary. Safeties coach Deon Broomfield described Zayas as unique because he can blitz and cover from the slot cornerback spot, where the 6-2, 211-pound freshman from New Jersey is working this August.
He’s bigger than fellow flex options Zion Tracy and Marcus Neal Jr., and his physical style should earn him a role on special teams at minimum. There’s also a chance he sees snaps during the non-conference schedule.
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Penn States offensive line recruiting board picked up another name this week with the offer to Brendan Hall, a three-star prospect at South Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte. The 6-foot-7, 310-pound lineman already has a growing list of schools in the mix, and the Nittany Lions have now joined a pursuit that has been building around one of the regions more intriguing early targets.
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The challenge now is turning all that movement into something coherent before the games start to count. Campbells job is not just to install his own approach, but to make sure the newcomers and holdovers start functioning as one team, and the opener offers the first real glimpse of how close Penn State is to getting there. With a new era beginning and expectations already forming around the staffs ability to develop players, the early read on chemistry may matter almost as much as the result. [Read more 🡒]