Penn State wide receiver Koby Howard flashed in the Pinstripe Bowl, what he's capable of with more consistent playing time. (Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)
Penn State Football has completed its first spring practice under head coach Matt Campbell. While many of the Nittany Lions‘ expected starters for the 2026 season missed parts or all of spring practice with various injuries, key pieces of this season’s roster were able to hit the field over the past two months in Happy Valley.
Without a spring transfer portal window this season, for better or worse, Penn State‘s roster will not change much before the season begins.
Here is a post-spring practice projection of the starting lineup the Nittany Lions are expected to roll out for the first season under Campbell.
Penn State Football Offensive Depth Chart Projection
Quarterback: Rocco Becht Leads the Way
While Rocco Becht was not able to fully participate during Penn State’s 15 spring practices, Penn State did get a decent look at the three-year Iowa State starting quarterback during non-contact periods.
Becht is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and, barring injury, will be Penn State’s unquestioned starter under center this season.
The 6-foot-1, 210 pound quarterback returns for a fourth season starting at quarterback for Matt Campbell and is the winningest returning quarterback in all of college football with 26 career wins.
Running back: Carson Hansen (for now)
Running back is a fascinating position for the Nittany Lions.
Penn State has a very talented running back room with varying levels of experience. Former Iowa State starting running back Carson Hansen leads the room in experience, rushing for 952 yards and six touchdowns last season for the Cyclones.
However, Ohio State transfer James Peoples and returning Nittany Lion Quinton Martin Jr. are both nipping at Hansen’s heels for touches this season.
If spring practices gave us any indication of what the Penn State staff will do at running back this season, Hansen will be the likely “starter” with both Peoples and Martin Jr. seeing plenty of touches, in that order, behind Hansen.
Expect a running back by committee approach if and until someone separates themselves from the pack in non-conference play.
Wide Receiver: Brett Eskildsen, Chase Sowell, and Koby Howard
Spring practices saw plenty of younger depth at wide receiver with veterans Chase Sowell and Brett Eskildsen missing time with various injuries.
Koby Howard looked the part of a starting wide receiver this spring that could slide into the starting lineup beside both Sowell and Eskildsen once they fully return ahead of fall camp.
In the absence of Sowell and Eskildsen this spring, redshirt freshmen Zay Robinson and Karon Brookins flashed potential, but for now, expect Sowell, Eskildsen, and Howard to start for the Nittany Lions this fall.
Tight End: Benjamin Brahmer and Andrew Rappleyea
Continuing the trend of position rooms limited by injuries, key pieces at tight end, Andrew Rappleyea and Gabe Burkle were not able to participate in spring practices with injuries.
Penn State offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Taylor Mouser will likely use a number of tight ends this fall with two tight end sets very common in his offense.
With Brahmer, Rappleyea, and Burkle, Penn State has a very talented tight end room to work with and mix in on the field this fall.
After leading the Cyclones in receptions last season, Rocco Becht’s favorite target Ben Brahmer is expected to be the “starter” but all three should see plenty of snaps and targets at the position once healthy.
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Left tackle: Malachi Goodman
Penn State Football had an opportunity to work out a ton of younger talent during spring practice on the offensive line with Anthony Donkoh missing the spring with an injury.
At this point, I have former five-star tackle Malachi Goodman penciled in at left tackle to replace fourth-round pick Drew Shelton next season.
The former five-star offensive tackle has great size (6-foot-6, 315 pounds) and athleticism and could be a future star left tackle. However, Goodman is very inexperienced and did not see a snap last season.
Left guard: Trevor Buhr
Iowa State left guard Trevor Buhr was another former Cyclone who chose to follow Matt Campbell to Penn State this offseason.
Buhr played in eight games for the Cyclones and made six starts in 2025, earning an All-Big 12 honorable mention. In 2024, Buhr played in 13 games and started six for the Cyclones.
Buhr should have the left guard slot locked down heading into 2026 where the staff is very high on the former Cyclone.
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Center: Brock Riker
Texas State transfer Brock Riker got a leg up on the competition to be Penn State’s starting center this season during spring practice as Penn State’s returning backup center Dominic Rulli missed time with an injury.
Riker ranked as the number six interior offensive lineman in the transfer portal this offseason and was a major win for Matt Campbell and staff, with Penn State beating out Alabama, Oklahoma, Florida, and others for his commitment. Riker and Rulli (if healthy) will likely rotate plenty during non-conference play, but I have Riker slotted to win the starting center job this season.
Right guard: Cooper Cousins
After two years as a rotational piece and a vocal leader in the community and on the recruiting trail for the Nittany Lions, Cooper Cousins will now have the opportunity to lock down a starting spot on the offensive line for the first time this season.
Cousins was highly regarded coming out of high school as the number 57 overall prospect and the top interior offensive lineman in the 2024 class.
Right tackle: Anthony Donkoh
Despite missing spring practice and rotating between guard and tackle early last season, Anthony Donkoh should slot back into the starting right tackle spot for the Nittany Lions in 2026 once he returns from injury.
Donkoh is Penn State’s only returning starter on the offensive line and is the best and most experienced option for Penn State offensive line coach Ryan Clanton at right tackle for next season.
With so many projected starters scheduled to return from injury ahead of fall camp, shaking the rust off and getting back up to speed before the season kicks off will be crucial for the Nittany Lions offense.
Without the extra time this spring to gel as an offensive unit, the Nittany Lions will need to quickly make up for lost time once fall camp kicks off in August.
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