This is one in a series of stories breaking down each of the players on Penn State Football’s 2026 roster.
Linebacker Kooper Ebel is one of the flood of former Iowa State Cyclones who followed head coach Matt Campbell from Ames to Happy Valley. At 6-foot-4, he’s a good deal taller than the typical off-ball linebacker, height he can use to disrupt passing lanes over the middle. Ebel racked up eight tackles for loss and three pass breakups in 2025, impacting opposing offenses on multiple levels.
A two-year starter with Iowa State, Ebel joins a Nittany Lions squad known for developing its linebackers. While the rising senior will only have one season to make an on-field impact with Penn State, his experience under Campbell will help him aid the program through the coaching transition, giving Ebel an opportunity to step up as a trendsetter as a new era dawns.
Similarly important, Ebel played under new linebackers coach Tyson Veidt during his freshman season at Iowa State. He also has a rapport with junior linebacker Cael Brezina, another Cyclones’ transfer.
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 233 pounds
Hometown: Hartley, Iowa
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.High School Career: Ebel won a pair of IPSWA first-team selections for his contributions as a dual-threat quarterback and defender, earning a three-star ranking for his efforts.
Iowa State (2024-25): Ebel started 26 games over the past two seasons with the Cyclones, breaking into the starting lineup as a sophomore. Playing at middle linebacker, he amassed 77 tackles (38 solo), eight tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and three pass breakups in 2025.
Where he stands: Linebacker is one of a few position groups that didn’t undergo a direct transition as Matt Campbell moved his regime from Ames to State College. The Nittany Lions brought in Veidt, who spent the past two seasons at Cincinnati, to coach the unit.
Prior to his time with the Bearcats, Veidt served under Campbell at Iowa State; he departed after Ebel’s freshman year, so the veteran linebacker could provide a valuable thread of continuity for younger players less familiar with how Veidt runs things.
Ebel’s status as a consistent contributor should help him step up immediately on the field as the 2026 season begins.
