Former Iowa State wide receiver Chase Sowell could be an ideal fit to follow Matt Campbell to Penn State, via the transfer portal. (Syndication: The Enquirer)
Penn State Football head coach Matt Campbell has been hard at work putting together the 2026 roster for the Nittany Lions.
After starting with a recruiting class that had only two commits when Campbell accepted the Penn State job, Campbell has added 10 new commitments to the Nittany Lions’ 2026 recruiting class and picked up commitments from 24 transfer portal players.
The “Ames East” Overhaul: Ranking Penn State’s Impact Transfers
These commitments range from fourth or fifth-year players who will play their final season of eligibility in Happy Valley to younger players who may not see the field for a few years.
However, looking just toward 2026, here is a ranking of the top 5 instant-impact transfers that Campbell has picked up so far on the offensive side of the ball.
5. James Peoples (RB): The High-Upside Successor for Penn State Football
Honestly, the first slot could have gone to either James Peoples or Carson Hansen.
Hansen has the better career production so far, but Peoples may have a higher upside.
For the sake of not picking all former Iowa State players, I chose Peoples.
Peoples rushed for 344 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 5.6 yards per carry for Ohio State in 2025. With Penn State looking to replace the production of program record-setting running backs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton, the Nittany Lions could use a few veterans early in the season to see who has the hottest hand.
4. Trevor Buhr (OG): The “Plug and Play” Protector
This will not look like a splashy pickup to those who just want to see skill position guys on this list.
However, offensive guard Trevor Buhr gives Penn State and Matt Campbell a plug and play starter on the offensive line to protect quarterback Rocco Becht in 2026.
Buhr made six starts. At guard in 2025 for the Cyclones and earned an all-Big 12 honorable mention for his play.
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3. Chase Sowell (WR): The Vertical Threat Penn State Craved
Penn State has lacked high-end production from a wide receiver for the past few years, but Chase Sowell comes in as Iowa State’s leading receiver from 2025 and will look to change that next season.
Sowell caught 32 passes for 500 yards and two touchdowns in 2025. His 15.6 average yards per reception would have led all Nittany Lions who caught more than 10 passes in 2025.
Penn State’s “Safety Valve” and the Signal Caller: The Top 2
2. Benjamin Brahmer (TE): The Most Reliable Target
Tight end Benjamin Brahmer was the most reliable pass catcher for Rocco Becht at Iowa State in 2025.
Brahmer caught 37 passes for 446 yards and led the Cyclones with six touchdown receptions. Look for Brahmer to once again be Becht’s safety valve in 2026 alongside fellow tight end Andrew Rappleyea in offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser’s tight-end-heavy offense.
1. Rocco Becht (QB): The Quarterback with 26 Wins
Penn State’s expected starting quarterback for the 2026 season takes the top spot in this ranking.
Becht comes to Happy Valley with the most wins of any starting quarterback returning to college football in 2026 (26) and has thrown for 9,274 yards and 64 touchdowns in his four-year career in Ames with Campbell.
Penn State and Campbell will go as far as Becht can take them in 2026, with all eyes on whether the Nittany Lions can return to the college football playoff under the new staff in year one.
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- Ranking Penn State’s Instant-Impact Transfers: Why Rocco Becht and James Peoples are Keys to 2026 - January 9, 2026
- ‘Something About Him Changed’: Rocco Becht Explains Why “New” Matt Campbell is Built for a Natty at Penn State - January 7, 2026
- Beyond the Cyclones: 3 Massive Gaps Matt Campbell Must Fix to Save the Penn State Defense - January 6, 2026
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