Penn State’s preseason buzz has been built around camp progress and a few encouraging individual showings, but one recruiting development added a jolt of uncertainty. 2028 commit Deonte Flemings Jr. announced he is also planning game day visits to Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Nebraska, and Tennessee, a list that gives Penn State plenty of company to fend off if the cornerback starts seriously weighing other options.
Flemings’ comments about his future position also made his preference clear. Speaking with Locked On Nittany Lions on Aug. 12, the Erie, Pa. native said, “For sure, I'd like to be labeled as a cornerback.”
He began high school as a linebacker before moving to cornerback, and that’s where he wants to stay. Flemings is a four-star recruit, ranked 113th nationally and 11th at cornerback, according to the source.
Inside fall camp, one of the more interesting developments has been Peyton Falzone’s move from quarterback to tight end. That’s the position he’s been working at since camp opened, though head coach Matt Campbell said quarterback is still an option for the true freshman.
The staff doesn’t want to waste what it sees as his overall athletic ability, and tight end may offer the clearest route to playing time in Happy Valley. With Benjamin Brahmer and Gabe Burkle on their way out after 2026, getting Falzone comfortable now could pay off later.
Campbell told media that Falzone’s first few days have gone well.
Running back James Peoples has also turned heads, though not in the way many might expect. The Ohio State transfer has drawn praise from Campbell for his work as a blocker in passing situations. That kind of versatility could be what separates him from the rest of the running back group.
There’s also been plenty of talk about Penn State’s quarterbacks, though the early returns call for a steady hand, not a victory lap. Former Penn State quarterback and 2026 third-round pick Drew Allar made his first preseason appearance and finished 10-of-13 for 153 yards with two passing touchdowns.
He added a rushing score as well in Pittsburgh’s game. Even so, Josh Yourish’s assessment was blunt: “he wasn’t dripping with superstar potential.”
The game was not enough to fully buy into Allar as a finished product, though the possibility remains that he can still grow into the quarterback Penn State once expected.
Rocco Becht, meanwhile, is heading into his senior season with a profile that is solid more than spectacular. The evaluation around him is that he’s “good” in a lot of areas, but not “great” in any one of them.
As Yourish put it, he’s the kind of quarterback a team “wins with,” not “because of.” That doesn’t make him a liability, and it doesn’t shut the door on Penn State’s offense having a strong year.
It does mean the staff will be looking for incremental improvement, especially in the red zone, where his limitations are most obvious. If the offense around him is good enough, Penn State can still be in a strong spot - just not because of Becht alone.
On the defensive side, Kooper Ebel was the lone Nittany Lion to land on the Butkus Award watch list, which recognizes the most impactful linebacker at the high school, college, and professional levels. Ebel came to Penn State with Campbell from Iowa State after playing the 2023-25 seasons in Ames. In 2025, he posted 77 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three pass breakups, one sack, and one forced fumble.
In Other News...
Penn State Faces A Lineup Dilemma No Other Wrestling Power Has
Penn States fall lineup puzzle has landed in the middle of its deepest weight classes, and 157 pounds is suddenly one of the most intriguing decisions on the roster. The Nittany Lions have enough high-end talent to make the choice complicated, with Tyler Kasak coming off a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships and freshman PJ Duke arriving with the kind of reputation that has already pushed him to No. 1 in the preseason rankings at the weight.
The challenge for the coaching staff is that this is not a simple matter of sliding someone elsewhere and opening a spot. Penn State has limited flexibility to shuffle wrestlers into other classes, and the situation could become even more crowded if Levi Haines returns. For a program that usually has more answers than questions by this point in the year, this is the rare case where its depth is creating a decision it cannot easily avoid. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Fans Are About To See A Different Beaver Stadium
Beaver Stadium is in the middle of a massive transformation, and Penn State fans are going to notice the changes well before kickoff. The $700 million renovation is replacing temporary steel bleachers with permanent concrete upper-bowl seating, while also adding more club space, luxury suites and loge boxes as the stadium is reshaped for the long haul. Athletic director Pat Kraft said the project remains on schedule, which is a key point for a fan base that has watched the venue evolve in real time.
The bigger question now is what the finished building will feel like on Saturdays in Happy Valley. The renovation is designed to increase the stadiums height and capacity, and the final number could put Beaver Stadium in rare air among college football venues. For Penn State, it is not just about modern amenities or premium seating. It is about whether one of the sports most intimidating settings is about to become even more imposing. [Read more 🡒]