Early 2026 Penn State football depth chart for new coach Matt Campbell

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.