Penn State football head coach Matt Campbell is getting to work on the recruiting trail. (Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images)
Penn State Football head coach Matt Campbell met with the media for a press conference on Wednesday to discuss the Penn State football team on National Signing Day.
While much of Penn State‘s incoming class did come from the transfer portal this offseason, the Nittany Lions did add 15 class of 2026 players in the 62nd overall recruiting class, according to 247Sports.
Here are a few top takeaways from Matt Campbell’s remarks Wednesday.
National Signing Day: Matt Campbell Lays Penn State Football’s Foundation
QB1: The Rocco Becht Era Begins
Senior transfer quarterback Rocco Becht and Campbell have worked hand in hand over the past four seasons.
At Iowa State, Becht won 26 games as a starter for Campbell in three seasons starting for the Cyclones.
Now in his final season of eligibility, Campbell will count on Becht to instill Campbell’s culture in State College and lead the Nittany Lions this fall.
“I don’t think any college quarterback coming back has won more games in the final minutes than him.” Campbell told reporters of Becht. “He’s one of the greatest leaders I’ve been around.”
Campbell also called Becht “tough, gritty” in his remarks.
The Nittany Lions, and Campbell’s success in 2026 starts and ends with Becht, with his final season of college eligibility, and Campbell will count on Becht on and off the field to give the Nittany Lions their best shot to win next season.
The “Grand Slam” Staff
Campbell had a tall task upon accepting the Penn State job not only rebuilding an entire roster for the Nittany Lions, but also filling out his first staff in State College.
Campbell noted that defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn was Campbell’s first choice for a defensive coordinator upon accepting the Penn State job. Campbell noted that Lynn had to “give up some things financially” to join Campbell’s staff at Penn State, but Campbell knew Lynn was his number one target for the style of defense Campbell wants to run in State College.
Campbell also expressed confidence in offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser, who followed Campbell from Iowa State. Campbell noted that Mouser, “has proven to be one of the up-and-coming bright minds in all of college football…I think he’s got a fearlessness as a play-caller.”
He also called out Mouser’s leadership ability in his remarks.
Finally, Campbell expressed enthusiasm about his hire of Savon Huggins as running backs coach, calling it a “grand slam.” Campbell remarked, “You can tell the respect he had at Boston College to be retained on three staffs. Says a lot about his character. It shone through in the interview.”
Huggins’ understanding of the recruiting region will pay dividends for Campbell as the Iowa State offensive staff learns Penn State’s recruiting footprint.
Buy The Newest Penn State Gear From Fanatics | Shop Penn State Merchandise on Amazon
Culture Shift: Building a “Big Ten Bully”
During the press conference, Campbell also took the time to call out specific players and things that are changing at Penn State this offseason.
One thing that Campbell noted was that he wanted Penn State to get bigger and more physical.
On the defensive line, Campbell remarked that Penn State had to get “bigger and physical.” Campbell continued, “This is the Big Ten. We got to stop the run. We got to be big and physical.”
This emphasis also came through when speaking about running back Quinton Martin. Campbell noted that he challenged Martin to get bigger and more physical this offseason, noting that he wants him to play around 220 pounds next season.
Finally, Campbell noted that he had been in discussion with athletic director Pat Kraft about the Blue-White game, noting that the format will depend on team health this spring.
However, Campbell did state that Penn State wants to make an announcement next week to give people time to prepare for the weekend.
Penn State Football 2026 Way-Too-Early Depth Chart: Rocco Becht Leads an Iowa State-Heavy Offense
Loved this story? Get all our Penn State football coverage and insider updates first. Join our FREE newsletter — your front-row seat to the Lions.
A note to our readers; If you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may receive a commission
- “The Winningest Leader”: Why Matt Campbell is Handing the Keys Rocco Becht at Penn State - February 4, 2026
- Penn State Football 2026 Schedule Revealed: Thoughts, Takeaways, Analysis - January 28, 2026
- Penn State Football 2026 Defensive Depth Chart: Way-Too-Early Projected Starters - January 22, 2026
About the Author
