Penn State’s 2026 roster may have a heavy Iowa State flavor, but the real story is bigger than the newcomers. More than 50 returning Nittany Lions signed with Matt Campbell after the Pinstripe Bowl, and some of the most important pieces in the rebuild are still in place.
That matters because the players who stayed give Penn State a core that stretches across the roster, from the offensive line to the secondary to special teams. Koby Howard put it plainly when he talked about being one of the “new” faces despite remaining in Happy Valley.
"I'm technically a new guy, even though I stayed at Penn State," Howard said.
Up front, Campbell got exactly what he needed in Anthony Donkoh and Cooper Cousins. Donkoh has been a two-year starter at guard and tackle, and he’s been Penn State’s most productive lineman as well as a steadying presence in the room.
He’s back at his natural spot at right tackle, and that versatility gives him a real shot to hear his name called on Day 2 of the draft. All-Big Ten recognition is very much in play.
Donkoh’s move back to right tackle opens the door for Cousins at right guard. Cousins spent last season in more of a supporting role and lost time to injury, but he and Donkoh give Penn State a strong pairing if both stay healthy. Cousins has also emerged as a strong voice in the program and a player Campbell clearly values.
The backfield has its own returning piece worth watching in Quinton Martin Jr. He is not locked into the No. 3 role behind transfers Carson Hansen and James Peoples, and he could end up leading the group by midseason. Martin’s spring stood out after his Pinstripe Bowl breakthrough, especially after he gained weight, kept it on and drew praise from position coach Savon Huggins for his blend of power and agility.
Tight end Andrew Rappleyea and Howard are in a similar spot: both are returning players with a chance to matter far more than their current labels suggest. Rappleyea and Iowa State transfer Ben Brahmer built a connection this spring, and that pairing could give coordinator Taylor Mouser a dangerous 12-personnel look. If Rappleyea stays healthy, he brings real big-play ability.
Howard is chasing that same kind of impact. He averaged 19 yards per catch last season and spent part of the offseason training in Los Angeles with Brett Eskildsen, while also seeing Campbell as a fit for what he wants to do.
"I did my research on him," Howard said. "How he turned Iowa State around is one of the reasons I decided to stay. And I feel like I'm a great fit for the offense.
On defense, two of Campbell’s biggest offseason wins were keeping linebacker Tony Rojas and cornerback Zion Tracy. Both are among the best players on the roster, and both give D’Anton Lynn major flexibility.
Rojas recently got a positive progress report from strength coach Reid Kagy, and if he’s healthy, he can do just about everything for the defense: blitz, cover and chase plays from sideline to sideline. Tracy may be even more versatile in terms of where he lines up. He can handle three secondary spots, could lead the team in snaps even without starting and should also factor into the return game.
The defensive line brings more uncertainty, especially around Max Granville. His health is the big question after he didn’t play last year and missed spring drills because of a separate injury.
Still, if he’s right, Granville has the kind of pass-rush talent that could make him Penn State’s most productive edge player. Yvan Kemajou was another major return for Campbell, and Penn State needs that kind of talent at defensive end.
Cornerbacks coach Terry Smith also kept together most of his group, with Tracy joined by Audavion Collins and Daryus Dixson. That gives Penn State three high-level corners who could start anywhere, and the staff was fortunate to hold that unit together.
Even special teams got a boost from retention. Campbell cared plenty about bringing back Ryan Barker, and for good reason.
The kicker tied Indiana’s Nico Radicic for the nation’s best field-goal success rate last season at 94.7 percent, going 18-for-19 and missing only from 50+ yards on a blocked kick. He also missed just one extra point.
Barker opens the year with the highest hit rate in Penn State history at 89.2 percent, and if he can add more range - his career long is 49 - he becomes an even bigger asset.
Another returner worth noting is long snapper Blaise Sokach-Minnick, who is aiming to follow Tyler Duzansky and Chris Stoll to the NFL.
In Other News...
Urban Meyer Still Sounds Bitter About Penn States Block Six Loss
Urban Meyer still hasnt made peace with Penn States 2016 win over Ohio State, and he brought the grievance back up on The Triple Option podcast while talking through one of the most painful losses of his Buckeyes tenure. The former Ohio State coach, now a FOX Sports analyst, pointed to the field-goal sequence as the moment that still sticks with him, a play that became part of the larger argument around how that season was judged.
The frustration lingers because the loss did more than sting in the moment. It helped reshape the Big Ten race and later fed into the playoff debate, with Penn State and Ohio State both left to wonder how much that head-to-head result should have mattered. Meyers comments only reopened an old wound, one Penn State fans have long worn as a badge of honor and Ohio State supporters have never quite forgotten. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Quiet Quarterback Addition Could Matter More Than Fans Think
Connor Barrys path to Penn State is the kind of under-the-radar addition that can get overlooked in a crowded quarterback room, but it comes with a track record worth noting. The senior arrives after a breakout season at Division III Christopher Newport, where he piled up 2,866 passing yards and 35 touchdowns, production that helped turn him into a proven college arm heading into his final season.
For the Nittany Lions, the immediate quarterback picture still points elsewhere, but Barry gives the staff a seasoned option who can help keep things steady if the depth chart gets tested. Even if his on-field chances are limited to late-game situations, his value may show up just as much behind the scenes, where Penn State can use another veteran presence as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State QB Commit Just Sent Fans The Message They Needed
Penn States 2028 quarterback commitment is already sounding like the kind of recruit the program has wanted to build around. Four-star James Armstrong has made it clear that his decision was about more than the usual recruiting noise, putting loyalty, relationships and development ahead of the biggest financial pitch. That message fits neatly with the way Matt Campbell and his staff have been selling the program, leaning on trust and long-term connection as much as on-field vision.
Armstrong has also started doing more than just talking about his own pledge. Since committing, he has been reaching out to other in-state recruits and pushing Penn State as a place they should consider, which is the sort of early recruiting leadership staffs love to see from a quarterback. For a class still taking shape, having a passer already acting like a recruiter of his own gives the Nittany Lions another reason to feel good about where this one could go next. [Read more 🡒]