The first two days of Penn State’s summer practice have already put a few expected 2026 contributors in the spotlight, and Thursday’s session at Lasch Fields kept that trend rolling.
The heat was still hanging over the field, and the work came fast. After the usual stretching and with Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder playing to open practice, the team moved straight into position drills. At least four NFL scouts were on hand, taking in everything from start to finish.
One of the clearest standouts was linebacker Tony Rojas, whose return from injury continues to look on schedule. He missed much of spring, but he’s been back at practice and is steadily adding more workload and intensity as camp builds.
On Wednesday, he broke up a pass against starting tight end Benjamin Brahmer in a drill. On Thursday, the movement looked even sharper.
His lateral quickness and footwork stood out, and even with his leg wrapped, there was no visible sign that he was being held back.
Brahmer, meanwhile, keeps making it obvious why he landed on the preseason watchlist for the Mackey Award. The transfer tight end was a semifinalist for the honor last year, and his size is the first thing that jumps out at you. Listed at 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds, he has looked like one of the most noticeable players on the field through the first two practices.
The size is one thing, but it’s the way he moves that makes him different. Brahmer has shown surprising fluidity for a player that big, along with a quick first step and polished route running.
He’s also bringing strong hands and the kind of power that should translate both as a blocker and as a receiver. With that combination, it’s easy to see why Matt Campbell and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser will want to feature him.
Running back Carson Hansen also made his presence felt. He enters the season as the projected RB1 after putting up 952 rushing yards and six touchdowns last year, good for second team All-Big 12 honors. On Thursday, he showed the traits that made him such a focal point: agility, elusiveness, straight-line burst and the willingness to lower his shoulder and finish through contact.
With running back long viewed as a centerpiece in Penn State offenses of old and Hansen having nearly 200 carries last season, he looks set to be asked to help set the tone again this fall.
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 🡒]
Penn State Has A Comeback Story That Could Lift Its Tight Ends
Andrew Rappleyeas path has already given Penn State an encouraging subplot at tight end, and it comes at a position the Nittany Lions could use as a steadying force. After emerging as a real factor in the passing game late in 2023, when he found the end zone multiple times, Rappleyeas momentum was interrupted by a season-ending injury in the 2024 opener. Still, his return to the rotation in 2025 showed why the staff had reason to be patient with a redshirt junior whose role had been trending up.
Rappleyea is now part of a deeper, more interesting picture heading into 2026, with Luke Reynolds and Khalil Dinkins already in the mix and Iowa State transfers Ben Brahmer and Gabe Burkle joining the competition. The result is a position battle that could push Penn State toward a stronger all-around tight end room, and Rappleyeas comeback gives that storyline a built-in edge. If he can keep building on what he showed before the injury, the Lions may have one more productive option in an offense that has room for it. [Read more 🡒]