Taylor Mouser didn’t duck the issue after Penn State’s 27-9 win over Temple. The offensive coordinator said plainly that the run game hasn’t been good enough, and he put the responsibility on himself as the Nittany Lions work through an uneven start on the ground.
Through two games, Carson Hansen has handled most of the carries, with James Peoples behind him in the rotation. Hansen is averaging 4.4 yards per carry, which is also the team mark for the running backs this season, but Mouser said the bigger issue isn’t just execution from the backs or the line.
“We’re all frustrated with the level of mediocrity that I would call the run game, and that starts with me,” Mouser said. “I’m more mad at myself than I am the Oline.”
Before the season, Mouser said the offense would use a four-running back package that included Hansen, Peoples, Quinton Martin Jr. and Cam Wallace. Martin, despite praise from Mouser and the staff during the summer and fall camp, didn’t get on the field against Temple. Mouser made clear that wasn’t about a lack of trust.
“Quinton has earned the right to get touches in the offense, it wasn’t a reflection of our lack of trust in Quinton or where he’s at,” Mouser said. “His time’s coming, and I have all the trust in him to go out there and play.”
The passing game has carried more of the load while the ground attack sorts itself out, and Rocco Becht has been at the center of it. He threw for 271 yards and four touchdowns against Marshall, then followed with 268 yards and three touchdowns against Temple. Mouser called him one of the team’s top players and said the quarterback is handling a heavy workload every snap.
“He’s one of our best, if not our best player,” Mouser said. “I’m pleased with him. We put a lot on that guy’s shoulders every single play, and he’s done a good job.”
Becht had a bumpier opening stretch against Temple, including an illegal pass downfield and a miss on fourth-and-goal, but Mouser still singled out one throw as the best he’s seen from the quarterback. That came on a third-down pass to Zay Robinson between five defenders.
“I think the throw that he made to Zay Robinson on the third down was probably the best throw I’ve ever seen that guy make,” Mouser said. “I think that guy’s playing with as much confidence as I’ve seen that guy play with.”
Mouser also spent time on the tight end room, where Gabe Burkle made his return against Temple after recovering from a torn ACL suffered last November. Burkle had not practiced through the offseason, then worked back into a limited role in Week 2. He didn’t catch a pass, but he was on the field for 20 snaps as a blocker.
“Gabe has been on a pitch count this last week and it’s frustrating because I’ve been very vocal about how much I love Gabe and what he brings to our offense,” Mouser said. “He’s done a great job to prepare and (I’m) excited for his number to get called moving forward.”
Another tight end who drew praise was redshirt junior Finn Furmanek. He has yet to record a reception, but Mouser pointed to the way he fits the offense and the way he handles every assignment.
“He’s one of those guys that no matter what you ask him, he loves Penn State,” Mouser said. “He’ll be a captain here for this place one day. Every job that we ask him to do, he does it at an elite level.”
Furmanek was close to reaching the end zone against Marshall on a play that was batted down, and Mouser said that score is coming.
“We’re going to get him in the end zone,” Mouser said. “We’ll find a way to because he deserves to, just from the sacrifice and what he brings to the tight end room.”
In Other News...
Buffalo Coach Sees One Clear Problem With Facing Penn State
Pete Lembo didnt need much time to make clear what stands out when he looks at Penn States roster ahead of a trip to Beaver Stadium. The Buffalo head coach went through the Nittany Lions with the kind of detail that comes from studying a team closely, pointing to linebacker Tony Rojas, a player he once recruited at South Carolina, and to middle linebacker Kooper Ebel as the sort of defensive leader who helps set the tone for the entire unit.
Lembo also had praise for Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht and for special teams coordinator Justin Lustig, giving Buffalo a broad view of the challenge waiting on Saturday. For a visiting coach, the problem is never just one star or one phase of the game, and Lembos breakdown suggested Penn State brings enough across the board to make every snap and every hidden-yardage situation matter. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Fans Have Every Right To Ask About Quinton Martin
Penn State has put up 72 points through its first two games, and the offense has looked efficient enough through the air to keep things moving. Rocco Becht has completed 75 percent of his passes without an interception, which has helped mask some of the unevenness in the ground game, where Carson Hansen leads the team in rushing yards but the big plays have not yet shown up.
That is why Quinton Martin Jr. stands out as a talking point after he did not carry the ball against Temple, especially after flashing in earlier action. With the run game still searching for a true burst element and no carry going longer than 13 yards, it is fair for Penn State fans to wonder how Martin fits into the rotation and when he might get another chance to change the pace. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State's Spending Reality Just Raised A Bigger Contender Question
Penn States place in the modern roster economy is becoming clearer, and it comes with an unmistakable catch. The Nittany Lions 2026 football roster budget is estimated at $29 million to $32 million, which puts them 21st nationally and seventh in the Big Ten, behind heavy hitters such as Ohio State and Oregon. In an era when talent acquisition is increasingly tied to spending power, that kind of ranking matters just as much as any depth chart discussion.
The roster churn only sharpens the point, with 62 newcomers this season and 40 of them arriving through the transfer portal. Matt Campbell has worked within those limits by keeping important pieces in place and supplementing them with players he knows from his previous stop, but the broader question hangs over everything Penn State is trying to build. The program can still compete, but the margin for error is getting thinner, and the financial gap is now part of the story. [Read more 🡒]