As the Matt Campbell era begins in State College, Penn State football’s quarterback room is already taking shape with a mix of proven production, developmental upside and long-term potential.
PSU has added two transfer quarterbacks in former Iowa State QBs Rocco Becht and Alex Manske along with welcoming three-star recruit Kase Evans, who enrolled earlier this week.
Together, the trio provides immediate experience and future depth as Penn State transitions under its new head coach.
Rocco Becht arrives as the centerpiece of the group and brings familiarity with Campbell’s system. Becht appeared in three games during the 2022 season at Iowa State before taking a redshirt, then emerged as the Cyclones’ full-time starter in 2023 following Hunter Dekkers’ departure. He quickly stabilized the position, leading Iowa State to a 7–5 regular season and a Liberty Bowl appearance while earning Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Becht’s defining moments came on the biggest stages. He guided the Cyclones to the Big 12 Championship Game in 2024 and capped the season with one of bowl season’s most memorable finishes, engineering a late comeback victory over Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Becht accounted for four total touchdowns in the win, earning game MVP honors and closing out a program-record 11-win season. Over four seasons, he started 39 games, throwing for more than 9,200 yards and 64 touchdowns while adding 19 rushing scores.
Alex Manske provides developmental depth with intriguing upside. The former three-star prospect appeared in three games as a true freshman at Iowa State, completing four of five passes for 28 yards while adding seven carries for 33 yards and a touchdown as Becht’s backup. A multi-sport athlete who also plays baseball, basketball, and runs track, Manske is an unconventional quarterback who thrives off-platform and outside the pocket. While still refining his mechanics, his natural athleticism and competitive makeup make him a long-term project worth investing in.
Kase Evans, a standout from Lexington, rounds out the group as a high-upside freshman. Once an undersized starter as a freshman, Evans developed into a three-star recruit who followed Campbell to Penn State after a prolific high school career that included 11,640 passing yards and 120 touchdowns. His steady year-to-year growth underscores why Penn State views him as a potential “diamond in the rough” at the position.
