Injuries
7
Podcast: Early observations from Penn State football preseason camp
- Kale Bacon worked almost exclusively at defensive end during the two observed practice days, a role change that could alter Penn State's linebacker depth.
- Penn State is expected to play with two linebackers on most snaps because the staff favors using its secondary personnel.
- Multiple players discussed in camp were unavailable or limited for portions of the observed work, creating uneven rep totals while the depth chart develops.
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Podcast: Penn State preseason camp intel: How good can Rocco Becht be?
- Backup quarterback Alex Manske is fully cleared for preseason work after undergoing open-heart surgery for an issue found on an echocardiogram.
- Manske resumed throwing about three months after surgery and is back in Penn State's quarterback plans behind Rocco Becht.
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Podcast: Penn State's preseason risers and depth chart impact
- An experienced Penn State addition who logged roughly 500 snaps over the past two seasons at Utah missed nearly all of spring practice, opened preseason camp strongly and then was sidelined again by minor injuries.
- The new coaching staff is expected to provide clearer weekly injury information, which should make the player's Week 1 status and availability trends easier to assess before the Marshall matchup.
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Podcast: Penn State football season preview with former Lions lineman Landon Tengwall
- Penn State is emphasizing multiplicity on the defensive line, moving players across fronts and showing five-lineman looks that can trade linebacker numbers for pressure and size.
- Nickel personnel remains fluid: Zion Tracy and Marcus Neal have moved through the slot role, while Jeremiah Cooper is close but not fully back after previously logging roughly 400 slot snaps in his last healthy season.
- Tony Rojas was described as a defensive centerpiece whose value extends to blitzing and multiple linebacker roles; his prior knee injury was viewed as a major disruption to last season's structure.
- On offense, the key camp question is whether the line can establish the physical identity expected in Taylor Mauser's system after falling short of that standard last year.
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- Injury: Penn State QB Alex Manske underwent open-heart surgery in March for a dilated aortic root & a dilated ascending aorta.
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- Injury: ICYMI: An echocardiogram revealed Penn State QB Alex Manske had a dilated aortic root & a dilated ascending aorta.
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- Injury: Updating Penn State football player injury recoveries entering preseason camp and potential impact https:// 247sports.com/college/penn-s tate/longformarticle/penn-state-football-injury-updates-preseason-camp-potential-impact-288643467/ …
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Quarterbacks
13
- QB: Davey O’Brien Award Watch List The National Quarterback Award presented to College Football’s Best QB @RoccoBecht
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- QB: wild portal odyssey for former Penn State quarterback Beau Pribula
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- QB: Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht is on the preseason watchlist for the best quarterback in college football.
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- QB: for the second straight year, Penn State's Rocco Becht is on the watch list for the Davey O'Brien Award, which goes to the nation's top quarterback
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- QB: Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht made the preseason watch list for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
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- QB/TE: Veteran Penn State tight end Gabe Burkle, an Iowa State transfer, still is not fully cleared to practice.
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- Practice: cleaning out the camera roll this morning with the Penn State quarterbacks, led by redshirt senior Rocco Becht & redshirt freshman Alex Manske, going through drill work at Monday afternoon’s practice.
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- Coaching: As @Lions247 acknowledged a few hours ago in Preseason Updates, Penn State freshman QB Peyton Falzone is practicing at tight end.
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- QB: Rocco Becht is one of 81 players to be named to the 2026 Maxwell Award Watch List by @MaxwellFootball .
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- QB/RB: Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht was named to the 2026 Maxwell Award Watch List by @MaxwellFootball .
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- QB: Meeting with Penn State reporters Tuesday in Chicago, Matt Campbell shared an encouraging update at QB.
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- QB: final installment of our game-by-game series breaking down Penn State's opponents in the transfer portal takes a look at Maryland, which had some interesting QB movement & a pair of boomerangs (VIP)
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Coaching / Pressers
3
✦ AI Summary · 3 items synthesized
- [twitter] KICKER: chatted with Penn State kicker Ryan Barker at media availability this evening: - 'another goal of mine is to be able to have the head coach not blink every time he sends me out...
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- [podcast] When Penn State's defensive personnel are healthy, coordinator D'Anton Lynn plans to move rushers around and create pressure from multiple spots. - Consistency is the main developmental emphasis for the unit's emerging contributors; one spring riser improved with each practice and was described by the staff as a future impact player.
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- [twitter] Intel: SEC Coordinator of Football Officials John McDaid is beginning his annual presentation with a history lesson of football rules … Let’s hope he nails the landing on this approach
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- KICKER: chatted with Penn State kicker Ryan Barker at media availability this evening: - 'another goal of mine is to be able to have the head coach not blink every time he sends me out...
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- Intel: SEC Coordinator of Football Officials John McDaid is beginning his annual presentation with a history lesson of football rules … Let’s hope he nails the landing on this approach
Offensive Updates
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Countdown to kickoff: 6 days until Penn State football — focus on a receiver with breakout potential
- Sophomore Koby Howard is the only Penn State receiver with a catch in a Nittany Lions uniform after his role expanded sharply following last season's coaching change.
- Six of Howard's seven receptions in 2025 gained at least 14 yards, showing an explosive profile despite limited early playing time.
- Howard carried spring splash plays into preseason camp and has drawn repeated praise from Rocco Becht and Taylor Mouser for his work habits and competitive consistency.
- Howard projects in Penn State's top three receivers alongside Iowa State transfers Brett Eskildsen and Chase Sowell, with substantial slot work available.
- Frequent two-tight-end personnel could limit Howard's total snaps even if he completes his expected breakout.
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- RB: Penn State running backs Carson Hansen & James Peoples were named to the preseason watch list for the Doak Walker Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top running back.
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- Offense: @TDsTake , meanwhile, has you covered on what we saw from the Penn State offense during Monday's practice viewing window in his @Lions247 notebook (VIP)
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- OL: Penn State Coach Q&A: Ryan Clanton reviews offensive line depth, position competition and rising players https:// 247sports.com/college/penn-s tate/longformarticle/penn-state-football-coach-offensive-line-ryan-clanton-depth-position-competition-rising-players-288901960/ …
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- OL: Penn State OL Trevor Buhr on DT Armstrong Nnodim: "He's like a freakin' muscle ball."
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- Offense: new on @Lions247 : position-by-position notes & observations on the Penn State offense on Day 1 of fall camp (VIP)
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- Offense: Penn State kicked off its first preseason camp under Matt Campbell ahead of the 2026 season.
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- WR: This one-handed catch by Lions WR Cedrick Wilson (via @Lions )
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- OL: Matt Campbell says OL Anthony Donkoh was the first player to decide to return to Penn State after Campbell took the job.
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- OL: Anthony Donkoh did what was asked last year and played guard.
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- Offense: SEC Coordinator of Football Officials John McDaid said a new rule change is the penalty for offensive pass interference is 10 yards and there is no carryover for a 2nd half targeting penalty for...
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- WR: Get to know this Penn State transfer looking to bolster the WR corps via @CTDeGuz
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Defensive Updates
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✦ AI Summary · 8 items synthesized
- [twitter] DB: during yday’s practice, we saw Penn State safety Jeremiah Cooper, the well-regarded Iowa State transfer, do more drill work than we had seen in our previous three looks.
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- [twitter] DB: 17 days until Penn State football: @TDsTake took a closer look at freshman defensive back Josiah Zayas in today’s countdown as he makes a push for a role in his first year with the...
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- [twitter] Defense: Ahmed Hassanein: Dan Campbell said in a team meeting this morning that he envisions me sacking Joe Burrow.
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- [twitter] LB: Penn State linebacker Kooper Ebel was named to the preseason watch list for the Dick Butkus Award, which is given annually to the nation's top linebacker.
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- [twitter] LB: BREAKING: Legendary Penn State linebacker Michael Mauti is joining Matt Campbell's staff, @Lions247 has learned https:// 247sports.com/college/penn-s tate/article/legendary-penn-state-lb-michael-mauti-joining-matt-campbells-staff-288616643/ …
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- DB: 17 days until Penn State football: @TDsTake took a closer look at freshman defensive back Josiah Zayas in today’s countdown as he makes a push for a role in his first year with the...
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- DB: during yday’s practice, we saw Penn State safety Jeremiah Cooper, the well-regarded Iowa State transfer, do more drill work than we had seen in our previous three looks.
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- Defense: Ahmed Hassanein: Dan Campbell said in a team meeting this morning that he envisions me sacking Joe Burrow.
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- LB: Penn State linebacker Kooper Ebel was named to the preseason watch list for the Dick Butkus Award, which is given annually to the nation's top linebacker.
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- Defense: I focused on Penn State's defense during Practice 1 of preseason camp, then put together a notebook.
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- Defense: Was good to see Rojas (13) & Rapp (87) back at full go on the first day of Penn State football's training camp.
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- LB: BREAKING: Legendary Penn State linebacker Michael Mauti is joining Matt Campbell's staff, @Lions247 has learned https:// 247sports.com/college/penn-s tate/article/legendary-penn-state-lb-michael-mauti-joining-matt-campbells-staff-288616643/ …
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Everything
22
- Intel: The bottom ticker is vital to the art of channel surfing a College Football Saturday.
- Practice: Episode -Cooking with @CaelBrezina -Ride along with @Tony_Rojas5 & @cousins_cooper -Behind the scenes with everything fall camp https:// bit.ly/PennStateFball -TPSFBS-E1 …
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- Intel: Penn State QBs coach Jake Waters today: - Rocco Becht's accuracy 'the best I've seen' - why he wants QBs to 'rip it' - progress reports on Connor Barry, Kase Evans - benefit of...
Podcast: Big Ten Win Totals Part 2: Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, USC & MORE! | 2026 CFB Futures
- Penn State's Big Ten draw was described as one of the conference's weakest, with Wisconsin at home and a manageable nonconference runway before league play.
- The first-year Matt Campbell roster leans on several Iowa State additions plus broader portal help; the central question is whether that turnover can produce a top-25 team immediately.
- The host still rated Penn State ahead of Wisconsin, reinforcing the favorable outlook for that home matchup.
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- Intel: Penn State assistant GM Jack Griffith was named to @247Sports ' list of 30Under30.
- Practice: PHOTOS: Penn State football's latest preseason camp practice https:// 247sports.com/college/penn-s tate/contentgallery/photos-penn-state-footballs-sauna-like-training-camp-practice-289001759/ …
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- Practice: Back in Beaver Stadium Scrimmage
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- KICKER: the Penn State special teams unit is experiencing a bit of an overhaul this offseason after the departure of a couple stalwarts.
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- Practice: Matt Campbell meets with the media after Thursday’s practice
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- Intel: Penn State coach Matt Campbell meets the media this afternoon.
- Practice: Matt Campbell said James Peoples ran the ball well, caught a touchdown pass & had two key blitz pickups in pass pro during Penn State's practice.
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- Intel: Drew Allar's first unofficial professional completion is a 75-yard catch-and-run from fellow rookie Kaden Wetjen.
- Practice: Penn State practice notes and observations are in subscriber inboxes.
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- Practice: Penn State's first practice of fall camp is in the books.
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- KICKER: Mannelly Award Watch List Presented annually to the Best Long Snapper in College Football @blaisesm15
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- Practice: Matt Campbell sat down with the Penn State beat on Tuesday.
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- Intel: Connecting generations of Penn State Football Jordan Hill has been named the Director of the Penn State Football Letterman's Club.
- Intel: NEW LIONS247 PODCAST @TDsTake gets an early evaluation of Penn State football's season-opening matchup with @247Sports Marshall insider @_ChrisRMcL , including who and what to know before Game 1!
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- Intel: resuming our series on how Penn State's 2026 opponents were affected by the transfer portal, we break down Rutgers, which added some interesting FCS talent this offseason (VIP)
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- Intel: Today marks two years since I stepped out on my own and launched the Detroit Football Network.
- Intel: looks like this is going to be a fun place to watch some football this fall
- Intel: Join our @Lions247 VIP Penn State football chat with @tyler_calvaruso !