Penn State coach Matt Campbell came away from the bye week with a different kind of optimism, and it had nothing to do with the scoreboard.
After spending four days on the recruiting trail, Campbell said the trip reminded him what still feels strong around the program, even with Penn State sitting at 0-4 in the Big Ten and among the three Power 4 teams without a Power 4 win.
“For me, that was maybe the most enjoyable part that I’ve had in the last couple weeks, is getting out on the road,” Campbell said with a smile after practice Wednesday.
He said the visits to commits and prospects confirmed “really good energy” around Penn State football, including from high school coaches and players’ families. Campbell added that the message he and his staff delivered stayed consistent.
“I think there is really good energy and there is really a lot of excitement around where we’re going and what we are trying to build here,” Campbell said after practice Wednesday in State College. “So the conversations are pretty simple: This is who we are, this is where we’re trying to go and this is what we’re looking for.
And we really haven’t wavered from that, so I do appreciate it. It was a really great week not only for myself but also for our staff.”
The bye week also brought movement on the recruiting front. Penn State’s 2027 class is ranked 20th nationally in the 247Sports Composite and seventh in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions picked up a commitment from 3-star Ohio running back Jordan Hall, but they also lost two commits in that class.
One of those was 3-star Massachusetts quarterback Will Wood, who flipped to Boston College. Campbell also tried to pull Missouri 4-star commit Braylen Warren, but Warren stuck with Missouri.
Campbell also used Wednesday to announce a defensive change: safety Marcus Neal Jr. has moved to linebacker. Neal made the switch during the bye week after earning third-team All-Big 12 honors at safety for Iowa State last season.
Neal’s versatility has already shown up on the field. Last year, he led the Cyclones with 11 tackles for loss while working in a hybrid linebacker-safety role. He opened his Penn State career at safety, where the results have been mixed.
He had a big September moment against Buffalo, when Pro Football Focus named him to its national team of the week after he forced two fumbles and recovered one. But he has not recorded a tackle for loss this season, and he was a healthy scratch on defense against USC as Penn State looked for more coverage defenders.
That personnel crunch is part of why the move makes sense now. Penn State has effectively played the last two games with only three healthy linebackers, something Campbell said can’t keep going. Tony Rojas, who is having an All-America season, also needs time off the field, and Neal can help cover those snaps.
Campbell said he still hopes injured linebacker Cam Smith, who has missed six straight games, can return Saturday against Purdue. Even if Smith is back, Neal’s move gives Penn State more help at the position and gives Neal a longer-term fit there as well. Neal is 6-1, 216 and has two seasons of eligibility after 2026.
“I would say it allows his talent and his ability to be at a place where we can use it even more,” Campbell said. “Not only on first and second down but in multiplicity [scenarios] and in situational football, too. It's trying to find ways to get our best players on the field and get those guys in position to be the best within the scheme.”
At quarterback, Campbell made clear the depth chart is not changing. He said Alex Manske is “absolutely physically up to the task” if needed, but the redshirt freshman is not in line for action unless the game gets out of hand or becomes a last-resort situation. Campbell reiterated that Rocco Becht remains the starter and said he is fully “convicted” in the fifth-year senior.
“I would say he’s absolutely physically up to the task,” Campbell said of Manske. “I think the more important thing for us is, with the guys that have at least earned the reps to be on the field, trying to find the best rhythm for our football team with those guys.
Obviously that doesn’t mean that Alex isn't close to being ready to help us or not practicing well. That doesn’t mean that at all.”
Receiver Koby Howard practiced Tuesday and Wednesday and is expected to be listed as questionable on the Wednesday Big Ten availability report. He has not played since Week 3 against Buffalo.
Penn State hosts Purdue on Saturday at Beaver Stadium, with kickoff set for 4:15 p.m. ET. Big Ten Network will televise the game.
In Other News...
Penn States 2027 QB Search Just Got More Interesting
Penn States 2027 quarterback board already looks different after Will Wood flipped his commitment to Boston College, and the ripple effect was immediate. The Nittany Lions responded by extending an offer to another Class of 2027 quarterback, Ben Rolapp, who is also committed to Boston College but has drawn multiple offers while building momentum off a strong 2025 season.
For a Penn State staff still sorting through its options at the most important spot in the class, Rolapps name adds another layer to a search that is still very much ongoing. Losing one commitment can tighten the timeline for the next decision, and with Penn State continuing to pursue quarterbacks for 2027, this is the kind of recruiting twist that can quickly reshape the board. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Suddenly Has A Receiver Concern Ahead Of Purdue
Penn States passing game could be facing a little more uncertainty than usual heading into Purdue, with leading receiver Chase Sowell appearing on the availability report as questionable for the first time this season. The Nittany Lions also have Koby Howard in that same category, adding another layer of concern to a receiver group that has already been dealing with attrition and lineup shuffling as the week has gone on.
Howard has missed the last four games, and even if he is able to make it back, the expectation is that his role would be limited. There are also several defensive players on both sides dealing with various injury designations, so this game is shaping up as one where depth could matter just as much as the headline names, especially if Penn State has to adjust its plan at receiver on short notice. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Faces Real Pressure As Offensive Concerns Keep Growing
Penn State heads into its meeting with Purdue carrying more than just the weight of a four-game Big Ten losing streak. The Nittany Lions also need their offense to look more stable, with quarterback Rocco Becht working through turnover issues and a passing game that has not given the team much cushion during this slide. There is at least some hope on the injury front, with wide receiver Koby Howard possibly back after missing four games, which could give the group a needed spark.
Purdue arrives in Happy Valley with its own long losing run against Penn State, having dropped 11 straight in the series, but Barry Odom is already talking about the challenge of preparing for the Beaver Stadium atmosphere. For Penn State, this is the kind of game that can either settle things down or deepen the unease around an offense still searching for rhythm. The matchup offers a chance to reset, but only if the Nittany Lions can clean up the mistakes that have made the recent slide so hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]