Matt Campbell didn’t waste any time making his presence felt in Happy Valley.
In his first weekend as Penn State’s head coach, Campbell pulled off a recruiting coup, flipping four former Iowa State signees from the 2026 class to join him in State College. It’s a strong early statement from the new man in charge, and a clear sign that relationships built in Ames are already paying dividends in the Big Ten.
The first domino to fall was Bryson Williams, a safety out of Omaha (Neb.) Westside, who announced his commitment on Saturday.
The 6-foot defensive back was a key piece of Iowa State’s 2026 class, and now becomes a foundational part of Campbell’s first group at Penn State. Williams brings range, physicality, and a high football IQ - traits that should fit well in a Nittany Lions secondary that’s long prided itself on producing NFL-caliber talent.
But the momentum didn’t stop there.
On Sunday, three more names followed: quarterback Kase Evans from Lexington (Texas), defensive back Tyrell Chatman out of Lincoln (Neb.) North Star, and punter Lucas Tenbrock. That’s a full positional spread - a quarterback, two defensive backs, and a specialist - and it gives Campbell a solid nucleus to build around as he reshapes the 2026 recruiting class.
Evans is particularly intriguing. The Texas signal-caller was a priority for Campbell at Iowa State, and his decision to follow his head coach to Penn State speaks volumes about the trust between player and staff.
He’s a dual-threat QB with a strong arm and the kind of mobility that can extend plays - a modern fit for today’s college game. While it’s too early to project his role in the quarterback room, having a guy like Evans in the pipeline gives the Nittany Lions options and upside.
Chatman, meanwhile, adds more depth and athleticism to the defensive backfield. He’s a long, rangy corner who thrives in man coverage and has shown flashes of being a ballhawk. With Williams and Chatman both on board, Penn State is quietly building a secondary that could be a strength of this class.
Then there’s Tenbrock, a specialist who brings consistency and field-flipping ability to the mix. Special teams might not always grab headlines, but having a reliable punter can be a game-changer in tight matchups - especially in the Big Ten, where field position often swings momentum.
With these four additions, Penn State’s 2026 class now sits at six commitments as mid-December rolls around. While many of the top-ranked prospects have already signed elsewhere, there’s still a lot of talent out there - especially among players who had pledged to Iowa State and are now re-evaluating their futures in the wake of Campbell’s move.
What’s clear is this: Campbell is hitting the ground running. He’s leveraging existing relationships, identifying fits for his system, and getting early buy-in from players who trust his vision. It’s early days, but this weekend’s haul is a promising sign for what’s to come in the Campbell era at Penn State.