Ben Brahmer didn’t just find space against Temple - he got a pregame nudge that helped create it.
Before Penn State’s 27-9 win on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field, offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser told the tight end to “sell run” on the play that turned into one of the game’s biggest touchdowns. Brahmer took that advice into a play-action look from quarterback Rocco Becht, and Temple’s defense bit hard enough that the nearest defender was still five yards away.
“I gave kudos to Mouse on the [play] because he gave me a little tip, like literally right before the game,” Brahmer said. “They bit on it a little bit, so it worked out.”
That score helped break open a game in which Penn State’s offense had a sluggish start despite repeatedly getting the ball in Temple territory. Brahmer finished with five catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns, giving the Nittany Lions a dependable red-zone option when they needed one.
His first touchdown came right before halftime and gave Penn State a huge lift after an uneven opening stretch. Brahmer said the timing mattered.
“Me and Rocco were on the same page and just setting the tone for the rest of the game,” Brahmer said. “We knew something was going to split because Mouse was making a lot of good calls. We just had to execute those.”
On the play, Brahmer slipped between two Temple defenders and settled into a soft spot in the zone before Becht fired a 23-yard touchdown pass. Becht said he anticipated the break and pointed to the chemistry between the two, which goes back to their time together at Iowa State, where Brahmer caught six touchdown passes from Becht last season.
“That's just repetition and reps that we've got over the past three years, and so he's a really great player to have and to throw to,” Becht said. “It’s great to have him on our side.”
Brahmer now has three touchdowns in just two games with Penn State. Against Temple, he was more involved in the passing game than he was in the Marshall game, when his only target also turned into a touchdown.
There was a moment in the third quarter when a third score slipped away. Becht threw to Brahmer at the 3-yard line, but the pass was dropped. Brahmer said he moved on quickly and wanted to “go get it” the next time.
He did exactly that in the fourth quarter, hauling in another touchdown to help secure the win. Through two games as a Nittany Lion, Brahmer has already become one of Becht’s preferred targets.
“He's a humble dude,” Becht said. “He won't be the most energetic guy. He's always going out there doing his job, and he's a good person, so that's why we love him.”
After both of Brahmer’s touchdowns, wide receiver Chase Sowell joked with him about how often a 6-7 tight end can disappear on a defense and pop free for a score. On Saturday, Temple never quite solved the problem.
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For Penn State, the interesting part is not just that an opponent noticed the obvious talent. It is that Lembo framed the matchup around the parts of the roster that can tilt a game before the box score ever settles in, from defense to special teams to the quarterback spot. When an opposing coach comes away talking in those terms, it usually means he sees only one clean path for his own team, and it is not the easy one. [Read more 🡒]
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The roster churn only sharpens the issue. Penn State has 62 new players this season, including 40 transfers, and the program has had to navigate the balancing act of holding onto key contributors while adding talent through the portal. Matt Campbell has managed the budget pressures by keeping important pieces in place and bringing in transfers from his previous team, but the broader question remains whether that approach is enough for Penn State to stay in the same competitive tier as the leagues highest rollers. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State May Have Found Its Next Tight End Problem For Defenses
A new tight end presence has already started to change how Penn State can attack defenses. Benjamin Brahmer, the 6-foot-7, 250-pound transfer from Iowa State, has played two games and wasted little time making himself part of the conversation, catching six of nine targets for 87 yards and three touchdowns while flashing the kind of size and versatility that usually creates problems for opposing coverages.
Brahmers value has gone beyond the stat sheet, too. His strong pass-blocking grade and the trust he earned from quarterback Rocco Becht at Iowa State point to a player who can help in multiple phases, and the early signs around his physical development have only added to the intrigue about how high his ceiling might be at tight end. If this is just the start, Penn State may have found a matchup piece defenses will be forced to account for every week. [Read more 🡒]