Now that spring football is finished, new Penn State coach Matt Campbell’s had 15 practices to evaluate what the team has on offense.
It’s a new team for Penn State, with more than 50 new players.
Campbell knows about half of them from his time at Iowa State, and he saw many others for the first time over the past several weeks.
Saturday’s Blue-White Practice marked the end of Penn State’s 2026 spring season, and after the practice, coach Matt Campbell addressed media.
He was asked which offensive players stuck out to him, and here’s how he responded.
JAMES PEOPLES
The first players Peoples mentioned was a transfer from Ohio State.
Peoples had an expanded role for OSU during his sophomore season, increasing his workload from 49 carries in 2024 to 61 attempts.
The added opportunity translated into the best statistical season of Peoples’ college career.
He rushed for 344 yards and three touchdowns and contributed to the passing game with five receptions for 50 yards.
But Peoples didn’t record an offensive statistic in Ohio State’s final three games: the regular-season win over Michigan,the Big Ten Championship against Indiana and the College Football Playoff loss to Miami.
After the season, Peoples decided to enter the transfer portal, and Penn State got him.
“You saw James Peoples have a couple really good runs,” Campbell said. “I think he’s really flashed. I feel like his spring got better and better and better as he went.”
QUINTON MARTIN
The next player Campbell mentioned was another member of Penn State’s RB room.
Quinton Martin was in the same recruiting class as Peoples and ranked on spot behind him on 247Sports’ list (Peoples was the No. 7 RB in the country, Martin was No. 8.)
A combination of injuries and two guys named Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen being pretty good made it hard for Martin to get much playing time over his first two seasons.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.But Campbell likes what he sees so far.
“I think Q is one of the guys to me,” Campbell said. “The run he had in the red zone goal line-ish area, he is playing with a lot of confidence right now. To watch him get better, I’m so excited for where he has the opportunity and ability to go.”
THE TIGHT ENDS
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now
Penn State has developed a reputation for quality tight end play in the 2020s, with Pat Freiermuth, Brenton Strange, Theo Johnson and Tyler Warren all making it to the NFL.
Now, Penn State has Andrew Rappleyea coming back from last season, although he wasn’t able to compete in spring practice due to injury.
Coming in from the transfer portal are Iowa State’s Gabe Burkle (302 yards, TD on 26 catches in 2025), and Ben Brahmer (446 yards, six touchdowns, 37 REC).
Campbell also mentioned State College’s own Finn Furmanek as a guy who “continues to show up for this football team.”
KOBY HOWARD
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now
Campbell mentioned Howard briefly Saturday, saying he “had a couple great catches during the practice.
But he talked more extensively about him earlier during camp.
“I think Koby’s a young talented football player,” Campbell said. “And I think you knew that last year just kind of based on watching practice a little bit in the bowl games and his game reps towards the end of the season,
Howard caught seven passes for 133 yards last season, with all of them coming in the second half of the year.
CONNOR BARRY
With Rocco Becht and Alex Manske nursing injuries during spring ball, Barry, who starred at Division III Christopher Newport last season, took most of the first team reps at QB.
That continued Saturday.
“I thought he did a good job today,” Campbell said. “For him to have to take all those reps, keep pounding forward, I thought it was really beneficial for all of us.”
