Inside the Fallout at Penn State: Leaked Audio, Leadership Questions, and a Program at a Crossroads
When Penn State players woke up on the morning of December 5, they weren’t expecting to hear their program’s internal struggles broadcast across social media. But that’s exactly what happened.
A leaked audio recording of Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Pat Kraft speaking candidly during a closed-door meeting with players made its way into the public sphere - and the reaction within the locker room was swift and stunned.
Safety King Mack, one of the players present during the meeting, found out the same way many fans did - not from the program, but from a phone call with family.
“I’m being 100% honest - it shocked me,” Mack said during a Zoom interview Wednesday. “I didn’t even know it got broadcasted until my parents called and started repeating things word for word. I’m like, ‘How do you know this?’”
The meeting wasn’t meant for public consumption. It was raw, emotional, and filled with hard truths about a season that didn’t live up to expectations.
Kraft and the players discussed the team’s struggles, including challenges in recruiting, how NIL money is being distributed, and frustrations over younger players not getting opportunities. Kraft also didn’t hold back when referencing other programs like Oregon and Michigan - comments that clearly weren’t intended to go beyond the walls of that room.
For Mack, the leak wasn’t just a breach of trust - it was a symptom of a deeper issue.
“That shows the lack of leadership and accountability,” he said. “The fact that someone in the room would jeopardize everyone - because anything could’ve been said in that meeting, and it could’ve hurt someone’s future or career. That’s part of the selfishness and lack of leadership we have to fix.”
The fallout from the leak extended beyond the locker room. At new head coach Matt Campbell’s introductory press conference, Kraft addressed the controversy, offering an apology for some of his comments.
He also clarified that nine or ten players were involved in the meeting. Among those confirmed to be present were Mack, right guard Anthony Donkoh, linebacker Tony Rojas, and offensive lineman Cooper Cousins.
A second leak later revealed quarterback Drew Allar was also in attendance.
As for who leaked the recording? That remains unknown.
But for players like Mack, the damage was already done. The leak, in his eyes, was a reflection of the very issues that derailed Penn State’s season - a lack of unity, fractured leadership, and players not fully bought in.
When Mack sat down with Campbell for a one-on-one meeting, the conversation centered around exactly that.
“Some lack of leadership. Some lack of having people buy-in,” Mack said.
“Not having all 100 people locked in and focused on one thing at one time. It’s hard to be successful when people aren’t all on one mission.
He’s seen that, and he said it’s his job to fix that. He said, straight up, he doesn’t want anyone who doesn’t want to be here to be here.”
It’s a simple concept, but a powerful one: championship teams are built from within. And when a locker room isn’t aligned, even the most talented rosters can falter.
That disconnect is a big reason why the Nittany Lions are preparing for the Pinstripe Bowl instead of the College Football Playoff. Despite the preseason hype and national expectations, something was missing - and now, the program is being forced to confront it.
“Your best teams are always player-led,” said interim head coach Terry Smith during a Thursday Zoom session. “And when you have great leadership from within, that's when your team has a chance to be championship caliber.”
It’s now up to Campbell and his staff to rebuild that internal leadership. The talent is still there.
The fanbase is still passionate. But if Penn State wants to get back to contending on the biggest stage, it’ll take more than just X’s and O’s - it’ll take a locker room that’s united, accountable, and ready to lead from within.