Malachi Goodman’s rise to Penn State’s starting left tackle spot does more than settle one position battle. It gives Matt Campbell and his staff a clear win from the offseason, one that matters even more because they managed to keep a former five-star recruit in place through a coaching change.
Goodman wasn’t someone the portal seemed to be tugging at. Even so, holding onto a 2025 five-star offensive tackle was a real victory for Campbell’s new group, and Tuesday’s first game week press conference made it official. Campbell named Goodman the starter on the left side, locking in a line that also includes Trevor Buhr at left guard, Brock Riker at center, Cooper Cousins at right guard and Anthony Donkoh at right tackle.
Retaining Goodman and Donkoh gave Campbell and general manager Derek Hoodjer something valuable during the offseason overhaul: stability at both tackle spots. That matters because offensive tackle is one of the hardest positions to fill, and when teams have to shop for one, the price gets steep fast. LSU paid Jordan Seaton $4 million to transfer from Colorado, while Miami gave five-star freshman Jackson Cantwell between $2 and $2.5 million a year to head to Coral Gables.
Penn State did not have to play that game. The roster was built in a different way, with much of it brought over from Iowa State, and the program was not operating near the top of the market. Still, having Goodman and Donkoh already in the building gave Campbell and Hoodjer flexibility to spend elsewhere, whether that meant bringing Rocco Becht with them from Ames, rebuilding the defensive line in D’Anton Lynn and Ikaika Malloe’s image, or adding pieces like Ohio State transfer James Peoples and Grambling State wide receiver Keith Jones Jr.
Donkoh comes into the season as a known quantity on the right side. Goodman is the bigger question, mostly because he didn’t play a snap in his first year.
Betting on him to become the left tackle was a risk, but one Campbell had to take. For now, it looks like that gamble has worked.
That doesn’t mean Goodman has proven everything yet. He still has to show it on the field. But if he had lost the job in fall camp, it would have raised a serious warning sign about both his development and where the program was headed in 2026.
There are still some areas that need answers. Goodman remains a question mark, and so do the young edge rushers Max Granville and Yvan Kemajou on defense. But those are the kinds of questions a staff can live with when the players involved are talented and have real upside.
The alternative would have been much tougher: going back into the portal and paying for an offensive tackle. By avoiding that, Campbell kept Penn State from needing to overpay in one of the sport’s most expensive markets.
The bigger picture is clear too. Eventually, Penn State will have to spend at the top of the market if it wants to win a national championship.
For now, Campbell is leaning into development, and that approach has the Nittany Lions set up as a CFP contender in 2026.
In Other News...
Penn State Now Has An Off-Field Issue Fans Will Watch Closely
Penn State has an off-field situation to monitor as fall approaches, with freshman receiver Ben Whitver facing legal trouble stemming from a July 11 incident. Court records show Whitver was charged with two counts of driving under the influence and one count of driving the wrong way, a development that adds an early layer of concern around a young player trying to settle into college life and the program.
Whitver is due in court for a preliminary hearing on September 30, and the case arrives with the sort of uncertainty that can linger around a roster spot before the season gets fully rolling. His record otherwise appears clean aside from a minor traffic offense earlier this year, but this is now a situation Penn State fans will be watching closely as the calendar moves toward the start of the fall. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Backup QB Is Forcing His Way Into The Offense
Alex Manskes return has become one of the more encouraging subplots around Penn States quarterback room heading into the opener against Marshall. The backup has come all the way back after open heart surgery, and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser said Manske is expected to play a significant role on offense, a notable vote of confidence for a player still working his way back into the full rhythm of game week.
Mouser praised Manskes talent and versatility, and starter Rocco Becht has also sounded optimistic about where the young quarterback is headed and what he can add to the team. For Penn State, the bigger picture is obvious: if Manske keeps building on this momentum, he could become more than just insurance behind Becht, giving the offense another dimension early in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Fans Just Got A Tough NFL Cutdown Reality Check
The NFL preseason closed with a familiar mix of promise and harsh roster math for former Penn State players. Sean Clifford helped his case with a touchdown pass for the Cincinnati Bengals, Dani Dennis-Sutton flashed with his first NFL sack for the Green Bay Packers, and Dom DeLuca was active enough for the Baltimore Ravens to lead the team in tackles during the summer slate. Even with those moments, the final cutdown deadline still had the last word, as teams trimmed to their regular-season plans and left several ex-Nittany Lions on the outside looking in.
The Chargers receiver room offered the clearest snapshot of how thin the margin can be. KeAndre Lambert-Smith survived the final cuts and made the Los Angeles roster, while Liam Clifford and Devonte Ross were not as fortunate. For Penn State fans tracking the league, it was one of those weekends that showed both sides of the transition from college standout to NFL survivor: a few encouraging flashes, and a few hard reminders that impressive preseason tape does not always guarantee a job. [Read more 🡒]