Andrew Rappleyea may not have filled up the stat sheet through Penn State’s first two games, but he has already carved out a clear role in Matt Campbell’s offense.
The tight end has only two catches for 23 yards this season, yet his value has shown up in the dirty work. With Gabe Burkle out in Week 1 and limited against Temple, Rappleyea has been a steady piece in the run game, using his shorter, bigger frame to swallow blocks and help clear the way for what he believes can be a dominant rushing attack.
“We have the best backs in the country, the best line, best tight end group,” Rappleyea said.
That toughness is exactly what caught Campbell’s attention when he arrived and started meeting the Penn State players who had chosen to stay after James Franklin was fired. Rappleyea was one of 52 returners, and Campbell’s first impression of him was immediate.
“The first time I met him, I was like, 'Ooh, I love this human,’” Campbell said.
Campbell said his first question to every player in those introductory meetings was why they came to Penn State, and Rappleyea answered “with passion and with just this infectious energy,” Campbell said. That response, along with the way he carries himself day after day, made him stand out.
“You knew that that was somebody that you wanted to build the program around,” Campbell said. “Then to watch how he works, what he comes in with, that competitive endurance that he comes everyday with.”
Rappleyea, who spent the last three years playing for James Franklin, said he made his own decision to stay and give Campbell a shot rather than following Franklin or tight ends coach Ty Howle.
“This is the right guy for the job,” Rappleyea said. “He’s a great human being and as a coach, I just love playing for him.”
For Rappleyea, that buy-in also helped steady a roster that had to come together quickly around a wave of new faces.
“We had a bunch of new guys coming from all over the place and really just getting comfortable with them,” Rappleyea said. “Lining up now, I feel like there’s not a doubt in my mind we’re going to get the job done.”
Campbell has also praised the edge Rappleyea brings in every setting, not just on the field.
“It doesn't matter if it's ping pong or it doesn't matter if it's basketball,” Campbell said. “If Rapp's got something to say, he's going to try to attack you in everything he does.”
That same energy has fit neatly into Campbell and Taylor Mouser’s offense, which has featured plenty of tight ends and at times put Rappleyea on the field in 14-personnel. He called that look “awesome.”
The breakout game still hasn’t arrived, but Rappleyea doesn’t seem bothered. He has embraced the chance to contribute however he can.
“I just love football, I love the physicality of it,” Rappleyea said. “I love doing my job and helping the team win.”
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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 🡒]