Late in his third season at Penn State, Andrew Rappleyea turned into one of the Lions’ most dangerous passing-game weapons.
Now the redshirt junior tight end is back in the spotlight as PennLive continues its preseason camp watch list, and there’s a clear reason he made the cut. The 6-foot-4, 242-pound Rappleyea flashed real production late last season, finishing with 20 catches for 180 yards after emerging down the stretch.
His breakthrough stretch started with his first career touchdown catch in Penn State’s 37-10 win over Nebraska at Beaver Stadium in late November. He followed that with a 53-yard catch-and-run score the next week at Rutgers, then closed the year with an 11-yard touchdown grab in the Pinstripe Bowl win over Clemson.
Penn State had bigger plans for Rappleyea in 2024, but those never got off the ground after he suffered a season-ending injury in the Lions’ opening-game win over West Virginia. Even so, he fought his way back into the tight end mix in 2025, where he’ll be working alongside Luke Reynolds and Khalil Dinkins.
The room has a chance to be a real strength for Penn State, too. Iowa State transfers Ben Brahmer and Gabe Burkle bring proven production from the Cyclones’ offense over the last two seasons, and they’re expected to join Rappleyea in giving the Lions a deep group at tight end.
If Rappleyea can open 2026 the way he finished 2025, he has a path to becoming one of the Big Ten’s top tight ends. The watch list also includes WR Koby Howard, CB Daryus Dixson, C Brock Riker and S Jeremiah Cooper.
In Other News...
Penn State Opens Camp With One Big Offensive Stability Test
Penn State opened preseason camp under new head coach Matt Campbell with a roster that already looks very different from the one he inherited. Campbell arrived in December after 10 seasons at Iowa State, and the first days of practice have been as much about sorting out depth as installing the next phase of the program. With 40 transfers in the mix, there is no shortage of bodies to sort through, and the staff is taking a close look at key spots all over the field.
The most immediate question is whether the offense can find some stability behind the scenes, especially with a backup running back battle unfolding and young tackles and wide receivers being asked to grow up quickly. Quarterback Rocco Becht is participating in practice, and redshirt freshman Alex Manske is also back on the field, giving the staff more options as it tries to build a workable two-deep. For a team still taking shape under a new coach, those early camp reps may end up mattering just as much as the headline names. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Coaching Wait Suddenly Feels Worth It
Penn States long coaching search finally ended with a name that immediately shifted the mood around the program. After moving on from James Franklin following the 2025 season, the Nittany Lions landed Matt Campbell, and the reaction from around college football has been notably upbeat. Kirk Herbstreit was among those applauding the move, calling it an incredible decision and pointing to Campbell as the kind of coach who can give the program a fresh direction.
The fit is part of what makes the hire resonate in State College. Campbell arrives with a reputation for building tough, organized teams, and Penn State also has the kind of experienced roster that can help a new staff get traction quickly. The bigger question now is how fast all of that turns into results, but for a fan base that has waited through the uncertainty of a coaching change, the early signs around this one have been encouraging. [Read more 🡒]