Penn State football will feature an overhauled depth chart under Matt Campbell. Here's our too-early picks for who starts in 2026.
This Penn State football team figures to be one of the nation's most intriguing, get-to-know-them storylines of the 2026 season.
The Nittany Lions just finished spring practice and are still only halfway through a first-year roster overhaul and depth chart re-do like no other in school history.
A majority of Penn State's new top-line players will be either transfers, previous backups or incoming freshmen. That's what happens when you bring in 50 new players, nearly half of those following head coach Matt Campbell from Iowa State.
While the Lions seem set at quarterback, with Rocco Becht, what about the rest of the starters heading into the a new season?
Here's our depth chart predictions and analysis three months before preseason camp, long before Campbell's team debuts in Beaver Stadium against Marshall:
Penn State football 2026 depth chart: Quarterbacks
Starter: Rocco Becht, senior
Top backups: Alex Manske, freshman; Connor Barry, senior
Analysis: Becht is the most experienced quarterback in the nation and seems well on the way to recovering fully from offseason shoulder surgery. Will Manske, a top-tier prospect, be ready early on, if needed, coming off his own injury issues? Don't be surprised if the spotlight shines on Barry, a Division III All-American, at some point.
Running backs
Starter: Carson Hansen, senior
Top backups: James Peoples, junior; Quinton Martin, sophomore
Analysis: While Hansen is the experienced, dependable, expected starter, Peoples should deliver the flash and home-run play burst. Martin's Pinstripe Bowl breakout has seemed to carry over, which means he looks like a potential No. 1 guy, if needed.
Wide receivers
Starters: Chase Sowell, senior; Brett Eskildsen, junior; Koby Howard, sophomore
Top backups: Zay Robinson, freshman; Keith Jones, Jr., sophomore; Karon Brookins, freshman
Analysis: Is this finally the season that the wideouts produce as expected, and as needed? Sowell and Eskildsen, both Iowa State transfers, were limited during spring practice but own past production history. All three starters offer big-play, downfield abilities.
Tight ends
Starter: Ben Brahmer, senior
Top backups: Andrew Rappleyea, junior; Gabe Burkle, senior; Cooper Alexander, sophomore; Brian Kortovich, freshman
Analysis: One of the deepest and most talented rooms ready for a national breakout. How will coordinator Taylor Mouser make use of so many talented chess pieces, including the 6-foot-7 Brahmer and 6-foot-6 Burkle?
Offensive line
Starters: Brock Riker, center, sophomore; Trevor Buhr, left guard, junior; Cooper Cousins, right guard, junior; Malachi Goodman, left tackle, freshman; Anthony Donkoh, right tackle, junior
Top backups: Dom Rulli, center, senior; Vaea Ikakoula, left guard, freshman; Donnie Harbour, right guard, sophomore; Owen Aliciene, left tackle, freshman; Garrett Sexton, right tackle, sophomore
Analysis: This has the looks of a top-shelf line under new assistant Ryan Clanton, barring injuries. The key is the quick development of second-year Goodman at left tackle. Beware: the backups offer little reliable game experience.
Defensive line
Starters: Siale Taupaki, defensive tackle, senior; Keanu Williams, defensive tackle, senior; Ike Ezeogu, defensive end, senior; Yvan Kemajou, defensive end, sophomore;
Top backups: Armstrong Nnodim, defensive tackle, sophomore; Ty Blanding, defensive tackle, junior; Max Granville, defensive end, sophomore; Alexander McPherson, defensive end, sophomore
Analysis: A surprisingly effective, deep lineup despite the unproven pass-rushers. Granville's health and potential are key as is the early impact of Nnodim, who's made preseason waves as the team's strongest and its biggest personality.
Linebackers
Starters: Tony Rojas, junior; Kooper Ebel, senior; Caleb Bacon, sophomore
Top backups: Alex Tatsch, sophomore; Cael Brezina, junior; Cam Smith, freshman
Analysis: Lots of promise but big questions to answer: How quickly will Rojas return to form from injury, and will the Lions rely on two- or three-linebacker sets? Both will be big, especially with suspect depth early on.
Defensive backs
Starters: Daryus Dixson, cornerback, sophomore; Audavion Collins, cornerback, senior; Zion Tracy, cornerback, senior; Marcus Neal Jr., safety, senior; Jeremiah Cooper, safety, senior
Top backups: Jahmir Joseph, cornerback, freshman; Vabou Toure, safety, sophomore; Jamison Patton, safety, senior
Analysis: The best combination of experience and big-play talent on the roster.
Specialists
Starters: Ryan Barker, kicker, junior; Nathan Tiyce, punter, sophomore, Koby Howard, kickoff/punt returner, sophomore; OR James Peoples, kickoff returner, junior
Top backups: Matthew Parker, kicker/punter, freshman; Cristiano Rosa, kicker, senior; Zion Tracy, senior, punt returner
Analysis: Barker is one of the best placekickers in the Big Ten, but who will handle kickoffs? Maybe Tiyce, a 6-foot-5 transfer punter. The return game will have plenty of options, but Howard reportedly stood out on both kickoffs and punts in the spring.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Early 2026 Penn State football depth chart, analysis for Matt Campbell
Category: General Sports
