Less than two weeks out from the opener against Marshall at Beaver Stadium, Penn State’s offense is still sorting itself out - but the first-team picture is getting clearer.
The line appears to be settling in, the tight end room looks deeper, and the wide receiver group includes a few names that should give the Nittany Lions more options when the season kicks off. PennLive’s projection of the starting unit even features a third receiver and a second tight end, a sign of how much flexibility this offense may want to build in from the start.
At quarterback, senior Rocco Becht looks like the obvious centerpiece. He brings a 39-game streak of consecutive starts into the season, along with 26 career wins, and his teammates have been impressed by the way he leads.
The backfield starts with senior Carson Hansen, who has been one of the more overlooked players in the Big Ten. He has the kind of size-speed blend that stands out, and he’s already put up 19 rushing scores over the last two years.
Penn State’s tight end group could be especially interesting. Senior Ben Brahmer, wearing No. 18, is the matchup problem in the room thanks to his size and deceptive speed, and he has built strong chemistry with Becht.
Right alongside him is redshirt junior Anthony Rappleyea, who finished 2025 with touchdown catches in Penn State’s final three games. “Rapp” is also expected to be a major help as a blocker in the run game.
The receiver projection starts with redshirt senior Chase Sowell, who arrives at Penn State as a fourth-school stop after previous stops at Iowa State, East Carolina and Colorado. He flashed big-play ability in 2025 with a 146-yard receiving day against Arizona.
Junior Brett Eskildsen brings the speed element, and his 25-plus-yard catch total from last season - eight of them - shows why he fits that role. Sophomore Koby Howard rounds out the group, offering run-after-the-catch ability, added bulk, and a willingness to block after showing major growth in the second half of last season.
Up front, the projected line has a young but imposing look. Redshirt freshman Malachi Goodman gets the nod at left tackle, and Penn State’s staff clearly likes the upside in its trio of young tackles, with Goodman viewed as the most talented of the bunch.
Redshirt junior Trevor Buhr lands at left guard and comes across as one of the offense’s most underrated pieces; he can also handle center. At center is redshirt sophomore Brock Riker, who arrived as a major portal target after a strong year at Texas State.
Junior Cooper Cousins, a former Pennsylvania prep star, is projected at right guard, where his physical style should make life miserable for opponents. At right tackle, redshirt junior Anthony Donkoh brings the most talent and versatility of the group.
A three-year starter, he can also move inside, and guard may ultimately be his NFL position.
Behind the starters, redshirt freshman quarterback Alex Manske is back healthy after open-heart surgery earlier this year and is viewed as Becht’s successor. Tight end could go five deep, with Gable Burkle, Finn Furmanek and Cooper Alexander all positioned to see the field.
In Other News...
Penn State Is Selling A New Kind Of Game Day Access
Penn State is opening up a different layer of the Beaver Stadium experience this fall, giving fans a chance to buy into a few game-day moments that used to be reserved for insiders. For each home game, the school is offering packages that range from a look inside the radio booth to a pregame walk through the locker room, along with access to the head coachs postgame press conference.
The price tag varies widely, from $698 to $5,153 depending on the experience and how many people are included, which makes these offerings feel less like souvenirs and more like premium access passes. For the Nittany Lions, it is another sign of how much demand there is around home Saturdays, and how creative schools are getting in turning that appetite into something fans can purchase. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Alumni Are Suddenly Making NFL Roster Headlines
Week 2 of the NFL preseason brought a familiar Penn State thread back into view, with several former Nittany Lions making news across the league. Drew Allar drew attention in Pittsburgh with a strong showing after his preseason debut, while Caedan Wallace remained part of the larger roster churn that has kept Penn State alums in the spotlight. For a program that routinely sends players to the next level, this was one of those late-summer stretches when the NFL calendar feels especially tied to Happy Valley.
The bigger movement came with Jaylen Reed, who was traded from the Houston Texans to the New England Patriots, adding another name to the growing list of former Penn State players changing uniforms. And as one chapter opened for some, another closed for Allen Robinson, who announced his retirement after an 11-year career. For Penn State fans, it was a reminder that the leagues roster battles are never far from home, even before the regular season has begun. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden James Just Gave Penn State A Tough Lineup Decision
Jayden James arrives in Happy Valley with the kind of rsum that usually makes the next step feel obvious. The highly decorated incoming freshman has already collected a silver medal at the U20 World Championships and finished high school unbeaten, which is why his addition immediately sharpens Penn States already crowded middleweights. Even for a program built around title contenders, James gives the lineup one more elite piece to sort through.
The problem is figuring out where he fits. Penn State has established wrestlers waiting at the weights in question, and the competition makes this less about talent than timing and opportunity. Some around the sport think 157 pounds may offer a clearer route into the lineup than 174, but the Lions still have to weigh the options carefully before the season settles the matter for them. [Read more 🡒]