Penn State’s offensive line overhaul has brought in another familiar face from a familiar coaching tree, and Trevor Buhr arrives in Happy Valley with more than just size.
The redshirt junior from Washington, Missouri, transferred to Penn State after three seasons at Iowa State, giving the Nittany Lions a veteran lineman who has already logged real Big 12 reps. At 6-foot-4, 318 pounds, Buhr is the kind of addition that can immediately raise the level of competition in a room that is replacing major pieces like Vega Ioane, Nick Dawkins, Drew Shelton, T.J. Shanahan, and Nolan Rucci.
Buhr’s path at Iowa State was a steady climb. He redshirted in 2023, then became part of the Cyclones’ rotation in 2024, appearing in 13 games and making six starts. That season lined up with one of the best offensive years in program history, as Iowa State scored 435 points, won 11 games, and finished with 27 rushing touchdowns, tied for the fourth-most in school history.
His role only expanded in 2025. Buhr played in eight games and again made six starts, earning All-Big 12 honorable mention. According to his Iowa State bio, he did not allow a sack in 218 pass-blocking snaps.
The underlying numbers point to a player on the rise. Pro Football Focus graded Buhr at 55.1 overall in 2024 across 583 offensive snaps, then bumped him up to 64.5 in 2025 over 453 snaps. His run-blocking grade climbed to 62.6, and his pass-blocking grade rose to 65.2.
That improvement matters for Penn State, because this isn’t just a depth add. It’s a lineman who was trending up before he entered the portal.
Buhr also comes in with a built-in connection to one of Penn State’s other transfer additions. He helped clear the way for Carson Hansen, who earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2025. Hansen is now at Penn State too, giving the Nittany Lions a back who already knows what it feels like to run behind Buhr.
Before Iowa State, Buhr was a two-way standout at Washington High School in Missouri. He was named the 2022 GAC Player of the Year and earned first-team all-state honors as both an offensive and defensive lineman.
As a senior, he posted 49 tackles, 10 sacks, a fumble recovery and an interception. As a junior, he had 27 tackles and three sacks.
As a sophomore, he finished with 32 tackles and three sacks. He also competed in wrestling.
For Penn State, the timing is clear. The line is being rebuilt, and outside of Anthony Donkoh being a starter, nothing looks locked in. Buhr has experience at guard, where PFF charted most of his snaps at Iowa State, and his pass protection track record gives him a real shot to compete.
He’ll have company in that fight. Brock Riker is also in the mix at center, while Penn State brings back Donkoh, Cooper Cousins and Dominic Rulli.
Still, Buhr has a strong case. He has played meaningful football, started games, improved year by year, and already knows Matt Campbell’s system from his time at Iowa State. That combination makes him one of the more intriguing offensive line additions on Penn State’s 2026 roster.
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