Penn State’s fall camp has done more than just sort out depth charts - it has put Alex Manske in position to see the field this season.
What started as a comeback story has turned into something more immediate. After redshirt freshman Alex Manske returned to practice following open-heart surgery tied to a dilated aortic root and a dilated ascending aorta, he made such an impression on the Penn State staff that offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser said Tuesday the quarterback is going to play.
That wasn’t the language of a coach easing a young player along. Mouser said Manske has been so productive this offseason that he’s “forced” to play him.
“Alex has certainly deserved the right to be able to get on the field,” Campbell said. “I think even a year ago, if you watched us play, we were able to find ways to get him into the football game and impact the football game in a positive way.”
Campbell’s view of Manske goes back to the recruiting process, when he called him the “quarterback of the future” at Iowa State on Aug. 7. That future looked shaky after the surgery, but Manske’s return to the field has changed the conversation.
Mouser said Manske brings something different to the offense because of what he can do with the ball in his hands. He pointed to the quarterback’s running ability, his toughness on the move, and the size that stands out right away at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds.
“We can bring Alex in and be able to run unique personnel with extra alignment or not, and be able to run Alex because he's really good with the ball in his hands,” Mouser said. “I think I've seen him grow just his consistency in the passing game with how accurate he is, his ball placement, his timing, knowing where to go with the football for being a young guy.”
Mouser also credited quarterbacks coach Jake Waters for helping Manske develop as a passer. With the season opener getting closer, he said Manske has made real progress in the pocket.
Rocco Becht, who has mentored Manske through their shared time, said the biggest thing now is getting him reps. The more snaps Manske gets early, Becht said, the better chance he has to grow into a starting role down the line.
“The more reps that (Manske) gets is going to be the best thing for him,” Becht said. “Because in the future, when all the seniors are gone and it's his team, he's going to be able to rock and roll.”
Manske’s return has also won over teammates who know him well. Becht and Trevor Buhr, both of whom were with him at Iowa State, said they aren’t surprised by how he has handled himself since coming back.
Buhr was especially direct about what Manske brings to the room.
“Manske is a dog,” Buhr said. “Even last year, his confidence, his ability to lead the offense when we're out there.
I think he's a great player and it's easy to rally behind him. We’ll always do everything we can for him, and he's going to do everything he can for us.
With everything he can do, there's nothing you can't do. I'm excited to see him get his opportunity and play some ball.”
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There is also competition brewing at safety, where Josiah Zayas is pushing for a starting spot, while quarterback Alex Manske has emerged as a player the offense may lean on in a meaningful way. Camp still has plenty of time to reshape roles, but the early buzz suggests Penn State is getting a clearer sense of which young players can handle bigger jobs when the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]