Penn State football concluded its regular season with a victorious game against Rutgers in late November. December has been equally eventful. Under new head coach Matt Campbell, the program is undergoing significant staff changes and player movements as they prepare for the future.
Penn State Roster Update: Coaching Staff Enhancements
Matt Campbell is actively shaping his coaching team for the 2026 season. Recently, he appointed two additional coaches from his Iowa State staff:
- Noah Pauley: Formerly Iowa State’s wide receivers coach, Pauley joins as wideouts coach. He previously developed notable NFL draft picks during the Cyclones’ successful 2024 season.
- Jake Waters: Appointed as quarterbacks coach, Waters comes from Iowa State and has a history as a standout quarterback himself.
In addition, Penn State officially hired ten staff members for Campbell’s program. Three of these are key coaching positions:
- Taylor Mouser: Offensive Coordinator
- Ryan Clanton: Offensive Line Coach
- Deon Broomfield: Defensive Backs Coach
Terry Smith, the interim head coach, is also set to join Campbell’s staff in an unspecified role.
Transfer Portal Developments
As the transfer portal prepares to open in January, several players are looking for new opportunities:
- Tellek Lockette: A veteran offensive lineman with prior experience at Louisiana-Monroe and Texas State. Both Penn State and Auburn are expressing interest in him.
Player Updates for 2026 NFL Draft
Several key players have announced their decisions regarding the upcoming draft:
- Vega Ioane: A projected first-round pick, he will opt out of the Pinstripe Bowl to declare for the draft.
- Nick Singleton: The senior running back, a standout in the program’s history, has also opted out of the Pinstripe Bowl.
- Elliot Washington: Plans to enter the transfer portal.
- Zakee Wheatley: Will focus on the 2026 NFL draft, opting out of the bowl game.
- Zane Durant: Following his opt-out, he will participate in the Senior Bowl.
- Dani Dennis-Sutton, Kaytron Allen, and Drew Shelton: Have also accepted Senior Bowl invitations.
Coaching Changes Ahead
Recent reports revealed that several coaches will not return for the 2026 season:
- Phil Trautwein: The offensive line coach since 2020 will join Florida’s staff.
- Jim Knowles: Expected to depart for Tennessee as their defensive coordinator.
- Stan Drayton: Leaving to become South Carolina’s running backs coach and assistant head coach.
- Ty Howle: The tight ends coach is likely to take a position at Virginia Tech.
- Danny O’Brien: The quarterbacks coach is also heading to Virginia Tech.
Stay tuned to El-Balad for the latest updates on the Penn State football roster and coaching staff as they gear up for their upcoming season.
