Interesting that they gave Pate the first interview. Wondering if Campbell will do the interview circuit like Franklin did.
I hope not. Hope he just gets to work as he said focusing on the current roster, spending as much time with the current players as possible, and gets them all to stay. There is a ton of talent on the current roster and with a few key additions at WR, OL, DT, LB and for depth he could lead a very successful 2026 season.
Edit: Maybe this was already done, but here are the players that can be the future of the team for the next 1-4 years if Campbell can prove to them that their best future is by staying at PSU and playing for him in front of the biggest fan base with the best game day atmosphere not only in college football but all of sports!
Eligibility is for 2026 season)
Returning tarters or with some starting experience in
Bold
OFFENSE (31)
QB -
Grunk(RS So), Kritza (RS Fr)
RB - Wallace(RS Jr), Martin(RS So), Smith(RS So), Hayes(RS Fr), Coleman(RS Fr) Keep'em all and there's no need for a 2026 or Portal RB. RB is very short on experience, but looks like a very talented group and any of the 5 could start and excel.
OT - Washington(RS Jr)Sexton(RS So), Boyer(RS So), Aliciene(RS Fr), O'Hara(RS Fr)
OG/C -
Cousins(Jr), Shanahan(RS Jr), Onoh(RS Jr), Birchmeier(RS Jr), Harbour(RS So), Brewer(RS So), Troutman(RS Fr),
TE -
Reynolds(Jr), Rappleyea(RS Jr), Olesh(RS Fr), and possibly one of the other 2025 class TE's (Kortovich and Henderson)
WR - Denmark(RS So), Howard(So), Gonzalez(RS So), Brown(RS So), Outen(RS Fr) , Exinor(RS Fr), Samuel(RS Fr)
DEFENSE (37)
DT - White(RS Sr),
Blanding(RS Jr), Gilliam(RS So), Wafle(RS So), Andrews(RS So), Cook(RS So), Andrews(RS Fr)
DE -
Granville(RS So), Harvey(RS So),
Coleman(So), Kemajou(So), Robinson(RS Jr), Mayer(RS Jr), Williams(RS So), Jennings(RS Fr), Harris(RS Fr), Burnett(RS Fr)
LB -
Rojas(Sr), Campbell(Sr), Tatsch(So), Wylie(RS Sr), Speca(RS So), Arrington(RS Fr), Smith(RS Fr)
S -
Lane(Jr), Mack(Sr), Belgrave-Shorter(RS So), Toure(RS So), Thomas(RS Fr)
CB -
Tracey(Sr), Collin(RS Sr), Dixon(So), Woseley, Washington, Joseph(RS Fr), Thomas(RS Fr), Johnson(RS Fr)
Obviously some positions are deeper in potential returning talent than others and all won't choose to stay. I left off a few players with eligibility due to them being at PSU 2 or 3 years but never seeming to get noted or get on the field.
All the 68 won't likely stay but if all the players return that have starting experience, complimented with additions at positions of needed experience and talent (QB, OL, WR, DT, LB) the PSU roster would compare favorably to any B10 team not named Uh-high-ya or Oregon.
Hardest job to assemble a starting group would seem to be on the OL where if Loane and Donkoh go on to the NFL only Cousins and Shanahan have any starting experience. Campbell I believe has said his OL coach is coming with him. But there are petty big numbers of players along the OL that have been in the PSU S&C program mulitple years and that were high end recruits coming out of H.S.
