Penn State’s first day of fall camp brought the kind of sight fans had been waiting for: Tony Rojas and Andrew Rappleyea back in full.
The injury list that followed the Nittany Lions through the 2025 season, then into Matt Campbell’s first spring and summer as head coach, is finally starting to shrink. Positive updates had already surfaced at Big Ten Media Days, but getting those players on the field is a different kind of checkpoint. On Wednesday, both Rojas and Rappleyea were there from the start and took full participation.
Rojas’ return is especially notable after he tore his ACL in Week 5 of the 2025 season against Oregon. The injury was first described as undisclosed before it was confirmed during the week leading into Penn State’s game at UCLA that he would miss the rest of the year. Roughly a month later, he posted an update on social media showing his left leg wrapped almost completely after surgery.
Before going down, Rojas had put up 25 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and one pass defended in four games.
Rappleyea’s road back has been different, but just as important. He finished the 2025 season, then dealt with a lower-body injury in the offseason that kept him out of spring practice.
That made his full workload in fall camp all the more meaningful. It also came after a 2024 season in which he missed most of the year because of a knee injury.
In 2025, Rappleyea played in 13 games and finished with 20 catches for 180 yards and three touchdowns. One of those grabs was a 53-yard touchdown against Rutgers.
For Campbell, having both players back matters beyond the box score. Rappleyea brings value as a blocker and as a vocal presence in the locker room, and he figures to continue in a similar role in 2026 alongside players such as Iowa State transfer Benjamin Brahmer. That depth gives offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser more options in a room that needs it.
Rojas, meanwhile, is locked into his spot in the linebacker group. He was expected to be a major piece of Jim Knowles’ defense in 2025, and Penn State felt his absence once he was sidelined.
There will still be plenty of eyes on the injury list as camp moves along, but getting Rojas and Rappleyea through Day 1 in full is a strong sign for Campbell and his staff.
In Other News...
Penn States Defense Is Already Showing Who Could Separate In Camp
Penn States second fall camp practice under Matt Campbell offered another early look at a defense that already has a clear feel for where some of the jobs may land. With media watching for the second straight day, the front seven stood out immediately, especially along the defensive line, where the tackle group looks bigger and more physical than it did a year ago. There is still a long way to go before anything is set in stone, but the first two practices have started to sketch out the shape of a unit that should again be the heartbeat of the roster.
At linebacker, Kooper Ebel and Tony Rojas are the names drawing the most attention as players expected to play major roles once the season opens, while the secondary is still sorting through a crowded mix of safeties and cornerbacks fighting for time. Even with those early impressions, the staff knows it is working from a very small sample size, and camp always has a way of changing the conversation once the pads stay on and the competition sharpens. For now, though, the defense is already hinting at who may separate from the pack. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Suddenly Has A Bigger Backup QB Story To Watch
Penn States quarterback room has gotten a little more interesting in early fall camp, with redshirt freshman Alex Manske emerging as the name to watch behind the starter. The former Iowa State transfer followed head coach Matt Campbell and quarterback Rocco Becht to Penn State, and he has already drawn steady praise from the coaching staff and teammates for the way he has handled himself on the field.
Manskes path has been even more notable because he is coming back from an undisclosed medical condition, and there was a point when football seemed far less certain for him. Instead, he has pushed his way into the conversation for the backup job, and the early buzz around his toughness and practice performance gives Penn State something meaningful to monitor as camp continues. [Read more 🡒]
Quinton Martin Jr. Has Penn State Fans Watching One Camp Battle Closely
Quinton Martin Jr. spent much of his early Penn State career waiting behind more established backs, but the redshirt sophomore has given the Nittany Lions something to think about heading into preseason camp. After finally getting his first start in the Pinstripe Bowl, he showed why the staff has been intrigued by him, and that performance carried over into a conversation about where he fits in the backfield going forward.
Now Martin is right in the middle of a crowded race for the No. 2 running back spot, with Carson Hansen at the top of the depth chart and James Peoples also in the mix. Penn State head coach Matt Campbell has pointed to Martins bright future while also making clear that the room is competitive, which is exactly why this battle is drawing so much attention from fans looking for signs of who might emerge this season. [Read more 🡒]