Penn State Nittany Lions Depth Chart

90
88
OFF
91
DEF
Contender
Matchup
Big Ten2-0 (2026)#14 '26 AP#65 Recruiting8% Returning
Depth Chart· Updated Sep 16, 2026· Two-deep · Public sources
QB
  1. 3
    91
    Rocco BechtRS SR/TR
    StarterTRANSFER
  2. 7
    68
    Alex ManskeRS FR/TR
    TRANSFER
  3. 10
    66
    Connor BarryRS SR/TR
    TRANSFER
RB
  1. 21
    91
    Carson HansenSR/TR
    StarterTRANSFER
  2. 1
    82
    James PeoplesJR/TR
    TRANSFER
  3. 25
    65
    Quinton Martin Jr.RS SO
WR-X
  1. 0
    90
    Chase SowellRS SR/TR
    StarterTRANSFER
  2. 8
    79
    Karon BrookinsRS FR/TR
    TRANSFER
  3. 7
    66
    Peter GonzalezRS SO
WR-Z
  1. 4
    91
    Brett EskildsenJR/TR
    StarterTRANSFER
  2. 11
    79
    Lyrick SamuelRS FR
  3. 19
    62
    Amarion JacksonFR
WR-F
  1. 6
    80
    Koby HowardSO
    Starter
  2. 2
    79
    Zay RobinsonRS FR/TR
    TRANSFER
  3. 15
    72
    Keith Jones Jr.RS SO/TR
    TRANSFER
TE
  1. 87
    86
    Andrew RappleyeaRS JR
    Starter
  2. 18
    85
    Benjamin BrahmerSR/TR
    TRANSFER
  3. 80
    64
    Cooper AlexanderRS SO/TR
    TRANSFER
LT
  1. 78
    85
    Malachi GoodmanRS FR
    Starter
  2. 77
    79
    Owen AlicieneRS FR
  3. 74
    73
    Kuol Kuol IIRS FR/TR
    TRANSFER
LG
  1. 70
    85
    Trevor BuhrRS JR/TR
    StarterTRANSFER
  2. 55
    79
    Chimdy OnohRS JR
  3. 79
    73
    Donnie HarbourRS SO
C
  1. 51
    85
    Brock RikerRS SO/TR
    StarterTRANSFER
  2. 54
    79
    Vaea IkakoulaRS FR/TR
    TRANSFER
  3. 52
    62
    Dominic RulliRS SR
RG
  1. 50
    85
    Cooper CousinsJR
    Starter
  2. 66
    79
    Will TompkinsRS FR/TR
    TRANSFER
RT
  1. 68
    85
    Anthony DonkohRS JR
    Starter
  2. 71
    79
    Garrett SextonRS SO

Next game kickoff time

Penn State Nittany Lions plays Buffalo at home on Sat, Sep 19. The listed kickoff time is 12:00 PM ET.

See the schedule and scores →

Coaching Staff

Head CoachMatt Campbell1st season — unverified
Offensive CoordinatorTaylor Mouser
Defensive CoordinatorNot confirmed yet

Head coach confirmed. Coordinators are still being sourced from official team staff pages.

What's Next

Who do they play next?vs Buffalo · Sat, Sep 19 · 12:00 PM ETWho's starting at QB?Rocco Becht — starting quarterback for Penn StateHow do they compare?Pick an opponent for Penn State
2026 Schedule

0 games

Tap any game for the matchup breakdown — history, projection, and a simulated result.

    Team Analysis
    WHY #15 IN WS POWER

    2025 SP+: 19.8

    85%

    Roster talent: 81st percentile

    7%

    Recruiting class: #65 national

    6%

    Returning production: 8%

    2%

    Preseason blend — SP+ weight rises when 2026 numbers publish (Aug). How we rank · not a betting line.

    Portal

    31 adds in two-deep · avg 85 OVR · top add: B. Eskildsen (WR, 91, from Iowa State)

    Camp battles to watch2
    Coach Penn StateTake them from week one to the natty. You call every play.

    Updated Sep 16, 2026 · Data from public sources

    Who starts for Penn State?

    Penn State Nittany Lions starting lineup

    Rocco Becht is the projected starting quarterback for Penn State as of September 16, 2026. Alex Manske is listed second.

    Penn State also projects Carson Hansen at running back, Chase Sowell at wide receiver and Andrew Rappleyea at tight end.

    The full Penn State Nittany Lions two-deep was last updated September 16, 2026. Preseason depth charts are projections and change through fall camp.

    Rocco Becht · QBCarson Hansen · RBChase Sowell · WR-XAndrew Rappleyea · TE

    Common questions

    Who is Penn State's starting quarterback?
    Rocco Becht is the projected starting quarterback for Penn State as of September 16, 2026. Alex Manske is listed second.
    Who starts at running back for Penn State?
    Carson Hansen is the projected starter at running back for Penn State, with James Peoples listed second.
    Who starts at wide receiver for Penn State?
    Chase Sowell is the projected starter at wide receiver for Penn State, with Karon Brookins listed second.
    Who starts at tight end for Penn State?
    Andrew Rappleyea is the projected starter at tight end for Penn State, with Benjamin Brahmer listed second.
    When was the Penn State Nittany Lions depth chart last updated?
    The Penn State Nittany Lions depth chart on Who's Starting was last updated September 16, 2026. It refreshes daily through the season.
    What was Penn State's record last season?
    Penn State Nittany Lions finished 7-6 (3-6 in Big Ten play).
    When does Penn State Nittany Lions play next?
    Penn State Nittany Lions plays Buffalo at home on Sat, Sep 19. The listed kickoff time is 12:00 PM ET.

    Full Penn State roster

    Every player on the Penn State Nittany Lions depth chart, by position.

    Offense

    WR: Chase Sowell, Karon Brookins, Peter Gonzalez

    WR: Brett Eskildsen, Lyrick Samuel, Amarion Jackson

    WR: Koby Howard, Zay Robinson, Keith Jones Jr.

    LT: Malachi Goodman, Owen Aliciene, Kuol Kuol II

    LG: Trevor Buhr, Chimdy Onoh, Donnie Harbour

    C: Brock Riker, Vaea Ikakoula, Dominic Rulli

    RG: Cooper Cousins, Will Tompkins

    RT: Anthony Donkoh, Garrett Sexton

    TE: Andrew Rappleyea, Benjamin Brahmer, Cooper Alexander, Finn Furmanek

    QB: Rocco Becht, Alex Manske, Connor Barry, Kase Evans

    RB: Carson Hansen, James Peoples, Quinton Martin Jr., Cam Wallace, D'Antae Sheffey

    Defense

    DE: Yvan Kemajou, Max Granville, Alexander McPherson, Dayshaun Burnett

    DT: Armstrong Nnodim, Alijah Carnell, Dallas Vakalahi, Liam Andrews

    DT: Keanu Williams, Siale Taupaki, Ty Blanding

    DE: Ikenna Ezeogu, Caleb Bacon, LaVar Arrington II

    WLB: Tony Rojas, Alex Tatsch, Cam Smith

    MLB: Kooper Ebel, Cael Brezina, John Klosterman

    CB: Daryus Dixson, Joshua Johnson, Hunter Sowell

    SS: Marcus Neal Jr., Vaboue Toure, Omarion Davis

    FS: Jeremiah Cooper, Jamison Patton

    CB: Audavion Collins, Jahmir Joseph

    NB: Zion Tracy, Ibn McDaniels, Xxavier Thomas

    RES: Gabe Burkle

    Special Teams

    PT: Nathan Tiyce, Lucas Tenbrock

    PK: Ryan Barker, Cristiano Rosa, Matthew Parker

    KO: Cristiano Rosa, Ryan Barker, Matthew Parker

    LS: Blaise Sokach-Minnick, Andrew Dufault

    H: Nathan Tiyce, Lucas Tenbrock

    PR: Koby Howard, Xxavier Thomas

    KR: Cam Wallace, Zay Robinson