PSU updated roster before Spring 2026 practices
- Thread starter LudicrousSpeedGO!
- Start date
LudicrousSpeedGO!
Well-known member
One other position change was Caleb Brewer to DT, was an OG I believe.
LudicrousSpeedGO!
Well-known member
Anyone notice any big weight gains/losses? I honestly have trouble with the amount of turnover keeping track of these guys this year.
GregInPitt
Well-known member
My observations by position:
CB
Likely the most talented position on the roster with Dixon, Tracey and Collins as returning starters and Joseph a talented young player that has some experience.
Also a position with youth, with Dixon as a Soph, Joseph, Johnson and Thomas also from the 2025 class (and Sowell from the 2025 ISU class), and 2 true freshmen in Chatman and Zayas.
Safety
The 3 ISU transfers, all upper classmen, and Toure seem to be the leaders to form the 2 deep, but there 2 younger transfers from BC and Syracuse will also be competing to see playing time, likely on special teams as well. Two true freshmen to develop.
DE
Talented but young likely starters in Granville and Kemajou, but a lot of unknowns at this point behind those two. Holdovers that haven't done much on the field in Robinson, Mayers, and the RS freshman Burnett as well as Arrington who reportedly is athletic but looks light for DE at this point. Wonder if Arrington will be bigger than his current listing by the Fall. DE seems to need the incoming experienced transfers to be ready for significant roles, Ezeogu and McPherson. Maybe the true freshman Ford gets to play as he seems to have the size to contribute. It seems a good many of the DE's are pretty light as well with a number of them 240 lbs or lighter.
DT
Blanding played more as last season went along and seemed to play pretty well and should team with the incoming upper classman transfers (Taupaki, Vacalahi, and Williams all over 310 lbs) to form a pretty stout group with more size than last season's DT's. Also a good group of DT's as candidates to break out as contributors including Cook, Nnodim, Carnell, Andrews and Brewer who moved over from OL.
DT should be a big focus for the 2027 class as there are no true freshmen on the roster.
LB
Rojas and the young 2025 PSU class LB's Tatsch and Smith will compete with the 4 ISU transfers (all 230+ lbs) that are all upper classmen. I look for Rojas and the ISU transfers to form the starters with Tatsch and Smith continuing to develop as potential 2027 starters. A position in need of significant 2027 class talent.
QB
Becht is the obvious starter, with Barry brought in to be the likely backup. Staff has a year to develop the young QB's Manske, Falzone, and Evans to compete to start in 2027. Hope the true freshman Falzone is ready to get some snaps in the B/W game as it will be intersting to see him and he's tall and reportedly a plus athlete that can run.
RB
Hanson, Peoples and Martin form a talented group with Martin now listed at 205 lbs with Campbell having challenged him to fill out his big frame.
WR
Sowell, Eskildson and Howard as likely starters with young players with size competing for playing time in Samuel(6'4"), Brookins(6'5"), Gonzalez(6'2") and Jones(6'4"). It's been some years since a dynamic playmaker evolves at WR for PSU such as Dotson, ARob, Godwin, .... Aren't we due for a positive surprise at WR from one of the young WR's on the roster????
TE
Loaded. Rappleyea is an all B10 TE, and the ISU transfers Brahmer and Burkle should make a talented depth chart.
OL
Seems to be a talented and stout group with nice depth. Returning OT starter Donkoh with front runners Cousins and Buhr at Guard, Rulli/Riker at Center, and a nice group competing for the 2nd OT spot in Goodman, Aliciene and Sexton. Pretty mature and good sized depth inside from Onoh (6'5" 321 who may compete at OT as well) and Ikakoula (ISU transfer). Harbour hasn't really competed for playing time his first 2 years at PSU after being a highly rated Guard recruit from Wisconsin but is now listed at 6'3", 325 lbs and may be ready to get onto the field as well.
Roster looks pretty well stocked but Campbell really needs a talented 2027 class to get more young talent on the roster.
CB
Likely the most talented position on the roster with Dixon, Tracey and Collins as returning starters and Joseph a talented young player that has some experience.
Also a position with youth, with Dixon as a Soph, Joseph, Johnson and Thomas also from the 2025 class (and Sowell from the 2025 ISU class), and 2 true freshmen in Chatman and Zayas.
Safety
The 3 ISU transfers, all upper classmen, and Toure seem to be the leaders to form the 2 deep, but there 2 younger transfers from BC and Syracuse will also be competing to see playing time, likely on special teams as well. Two true freshmen to develop.
DE
Talented but young likely starters in Granville and Kemajou, but a lot of unknowns at this point behind those two. Holdovers that haven't done much on the field in Robinson, Mayers, and the RS freshman Burnett as well as Arrington who reportedly is athletic but looks light for DE at this point. Wonder if Arrington will be bigger than his current listing by the Fall. DE seems to need the incoming experienced transfers to be ready for significant roles, Ezeogu and McPherson. Maybe the true freshman Ford gets to play as he seems to have the size to contribute. It seems a good many of the DE's are pretty light as well with a number of them 240 lbs or lighter.
DT
Blanding played more as last season went along and seemed to play pretty well and should team with the incoming upper classman transfers (Taupaki, Vacalahi, and Williams all over 310 lbs) to form a pretty stout group with more size than last season's DT's. Also a good group of DT's as candidates to break out as contributors including Cook, Nnodim, Carnell, Andrews and Brewer who moved over from OL.
DT should be a big focus for the 2027 class as there are no true freshmen on the roster.
LB
Rojas and the young 2025 PSU class LB's Tatsch and Smith will compete with the 4 ISU transfers (all 230+ lbs) that are all upper classmen. I look for Rojas and the ISU transfers to form the starters with Tatsch and Smith continuing to develop as potential 2027 starters. A position in need of significant 2027 class talent.
QB
Becht is the obvious starter, with Barry brought in to be the likely backup. Staff has a year to develop the young QB's Manske, Falzone, and Evans to compete to start in 2027. Hope the true freshman Falzone is ready to get some snaps in the B/W game as it will be intersting to see him and he's tall and reportedly a plus athlete that can run.
RB
Hanson, Peoples and Martin form a talented group with Martin now listed at 205 lbs with Campbell having challenged him to fill out his big frame.
WR
Sowell, Eskildson and Howard as likely starters with young players with size competing for playing time in Samuel(6'4"), Brookins(6'5"), Gonzalez(6'2") and Jones(6'4"). It's been some years since a dynamic playmaker evolves at WR for PSU such as Dotson, ARob, Godwin, .... Aren't we due for a positive surprise at WR from one of the young WR's on the roster????
TE
Loaded. Rappleyea is an all B10 TE, and the ISU transfers Brahmer and Burkle should make a talented depth chart.
OL
Seems to be a talented and stout group with nice depth. Returning OT starter Donkoh with front runners Cousins and Buhr at Guard, Rulli/Riker at Center, and a nice group competing for the 2nd OT spot in Goodman, Aliciene and Sexton. Pretty mature and good sized depth inside from Onoh (6'5" 321 who may compete at OT as well) and Ikakoula (ISU transfer). Harbour hasn't really competed for playing time his first 2 years at PSU after being a highly rated Guard recruit from Wisconsin but is now listed at 6'3", 325 lbs and may be ready to get onto the field as well.
Roster looks pretty well stocked but Campbell really needs a talented 2027 class to get more young talent on the roster.
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LudicrousSpeedGO!
Well-known member
Great and thorough analysis. Thanks! Some of my thoughts:
CB does seem well stocked with talented mostly young players.
Safety should be good this year but I know very little about the young guys who need to step up after this coming year.
DT seems to be a change of philosophy with the beef on board. But how good are those guys?
DE still has me nervous especially with depth. You need to rotate players in and an injury could be devastating here.
LB may be better than last year but I'm in wait and see mode. A lot will depend on how much those DTs suck up blocks and hold their ground.
I think Manske becomes qb2. I know that he already was at ISU and he may have the most upside of any QB on the roster.
RB looks good to me both now and into the future.
TE is still our top position group with at least 2 legit nfl draft picks.
WR is a weak spot until further notice. Perhaps the new offensive philosophy does more to help them? We'll see but I think teams press the offense until we prove that the receivers can open it up.
OL has lots of potential but short on guarantees.
Overall:
Last season I and many others viewed 2026 as a step back on the roster with so many top upper classmen heading off to the draft. With the disappointing 2025 season, coaching search chaos, portal deflections, I didn't think the roster could look this solid heading into 2026. Hopefully and it is my assumption at this point, the new staff can do more with talent on hand than the previous staff. I think they've consistently done that at ISU and now they have access to better talent and resources. I'm hopeful. 10-2 is my prediction.
GregInPitt
Well-known member
A few comments regarding your thoughts.
At Safety there seems to be a lack of young talent, so Safety along with DT and LB will likely be priorities for the 2027 class. But young talent is needed at about all positions. Even at TE where all 3 top TE's could choose to leave after the 2026 season.
Yep, DE seems short on depth. Really need a couple of the holdovers such as Robinson to emerge, but that does seem like a crap shoot as Robinson for example has been in the program for 3 years (going into his RS Jr season in 2026) and hasn't so far won much playing time. Really need the couple young transfers to step up.
I was also thinking about Manske as the backup QB. But the staff brought in Connor Barry to compete for the backup QB spot and Barry is very experienced, although at the DIII level. "His breakout year earned him NJAC Offensive Player of the Year honors and second-team All-American recognition, helping elevate Christopher Newport into the national Division III spotlight.". So it will be interesting to see if Barry wins the backup role for 2026, or is he is just on the roster in case of multiple injuries at QB.
I'm pretty optimistic for the OL, especially given the numerous losses to graduation and the couple key losses to tranfer such Boyer who started at Left OT in the bowl game, and Shanahan. OL had significant depth brought in by Trautwein, fortunately. And Donkoh staying provides an NFL ready anchor for the OL.
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The key to success in the new portal era is having a decent amount of seasoned 22-24 year olds. Get them from James Madison or St. Francis PA, if need be. Yes, 4* high school kids and second year up and comers are needed, but it's the bigger, stronger, more experienced guys that will make PSU tough and composed, especially for those big moments in big games.
For the upcoming season and beyond, the additions of the new arrivals have added this maturity.
For the upcoming season and beyond, the additions of the new arrivals have added this maturity.
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