The Jets added two familiar Penn State names on the same day, bringing linebacker Troy Reeder onto the 53-man roster and quarterback Will Levis onto the practice squad ahead of Week 3.
Reeder’s path has been a winding one, but he’s now back in the league with a real roster spot. He spent two years at Penn State after starting at middle linebacker, then transferred to Delaware. At Penn State, he redshirted in 2014 and played in 2015, when he put up 67 tackles, including 42 solo, 5.5 for loss and an interception.
His NFL résumé is longer than that college stop might suggest. Reeder spent 2019-25 with the Los Angeles Rams and appeared in 106 games during that stretch. He also had a stint on the Lions practice squad this offseason, and his career totals stand at 335 tackles, 12 for loss and five sacks.
Levis is heading to East Rutherford after being released by the Tennessee Titans before the season began. The former Penn State quarterback and 33rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft now joins the Jets’ practice squad as he looks for another opportunity.
At Penn State, Levis played in 15 games, started two and completed 59.8 percent of his passes while throwing three touchdowns before transferring to Kentucky. There, he put together the bigger numbers that helped shape his NFL rise, passing for over 5,000 yards and 40 touchdowns in two seasons.
Levis missed last season because of a shoulder injury, but he did play in 2024 for Tennessee, throwing 13 touchdowns and 2,091 yards.
In Other News...
Penn State Staffer Faces Serious Off-Field Legal Trouble
A Penn State football staffer is facing serious off-field legal trouble after police in downtown State College found Jordan Lucas asleep in a vehicle under circumstances that quickly turned into a legal issue. Lucas, an assistant cornerbacks coach, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of DUI along with three summary traffic violations after the stop, which also involved a suspended drivers license and expired vehicle registration.
Penn State has already acknowledged the charges and said Lucas remains with the program while the legal matter continues. For a coaching staff that has spent much of the season trying to keep the focus on the field, the situation adds an unwelcome off-field storyline involving a relatively new face in the defensive room. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Offensive Line Just Got Thinner At The Worst Time
Penn States offensive line took another hit at a bad time, with coach Matt Campbell announcing that Will Tompkins is done for the season because of injury. Tompkins had been part of the early rotation, logging 31 snaps over the first three games after transferring in from Iowa State, and he gave the Nittany Lions another experienced body in a group that can rarely afford to lose one.
The longer-term picture still offers something for Penn State to work with, since Tompkins is expected to keep four years of eligibility after this season. For now, though, his absence leaves the staff with one less option up front as the season keeps moving and the line depth gets put under more pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Just Lost A Dangerous Weapon Before Wisconsin
Penn States receiving group took a hit in the Week 3 win over Buffalo, and it comes at an awkward time with Big Ten play beginning. Koby Howard suffered an injury in that game and head coach Matt Campbell confirmed he will be out for an extended period, leaving the Nittany Lions without their most productive pass catcher heading into Wisconsin.
Howard has led Penn State in receiving yards through three games, so his absence forces a real adjustment in how the offense attacks the field. The injury is not season-ending, but missing him for the opener changes the shape of the passing game and puts more pressure on the rest of the receiving corps to fill the void. [Read more 🡒]