Matt Campbell Gives Updates on Injured Penn State Players

Penn State is on the verge of beginning fall camp; coach Matt Campbell is happy to have a roster that is, for the most part, 100%.

Talking with Penn State reporters in Chicago Tuesday morning ahead of Big Ten Media Days, Campbell gave updates on injured players.

Tatsch, a second-year linebacker from Latrobe, PA, suffered a long-term injury ahead of Penn State’s bowl game against Clemson last season.

Campbell said that Tatsch will be limited toward the start of fall camp, but expects him to be “pushing really close to being available for Game 1.”

When talking with media in February, Campbell said that Tatsch had the potential to be one of the best linebackers in the history of “LBU.”

“I think Tatsch has got a chance to be one of the great linebackers of all time here,” Campbell said. “I love his video. I love what he’s about.”

Tatsch appeared in six games during the 2025 season and burned his redshirt while becoming part of the linebacker rotation. His playing time increased late in the year as Penn State dealt with injuries and depth concerns at the position.

According to Pro Football Focus, Tatsch played 108 defensive snaps in 2025, including 48 against the run, nine as a pass rusher and 51 in coverage. He finished with 14 tackles, two missed tackles, eight defensive stops, one quarterback hurry and one pass breakup. His season grade was 57.6 overall, with a 61.2 tackling grade, 64.3 pass-rush grade and 55.6 coverage grade.

Cooper,a fifth-year safety who came over with Campbell from Iowa State, missed most of last season with a torn ACL suffered in late September.

Like Tatsch, Campbell expects Cooper to be at or near game-ready by Week 1.

Whenever Penn State has Cooper available, they’ll be getting a guy who was a first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2023

“Jeremiah Cooper obviously, you know, his flexibility and I think that’s one of the things that, I am excited about with this defense is you have so much position flexibility, and it allows us to maybe not have to be so personnel driven because of what some of our guys can do,” Campbell said. I think Coop’s a guy who can play corner; he can play nickel; he can play safety.”

Campbell told reporters he has as much, if not more, confidence in the tight ends room than any other position group, and Burkle is at the center of that.

Burkle, another fifth-year player coming over from Iowa State, ended last season with 302 yards and a touchdown on 26 catches.

He suffered a season-ending knee injury in November, and Campbell said he’s currently limited but hopes Burkle will be ready for Week 1.

He also feels Burkle is the best blocking tight end in the country.

“Gabe may be a little bit ahead of those two right now where he’s at,” Campbell said, “but I think you are talking about all three football players are, and their target line is that first game. And you could be a little bit past or a little bit forward based on how they’re recruited. All three of those players are (going to have a) monumental impact on our football team.”

Rappleyea missed spring practice with an injury suffered during the offseason, so his injury is the most recent.

Campbell said Rappleyea is expected to be a “full-go” by the start of fall camp, and that’s great news for Penn State.

By the end of last season, Rappleyea was the team’s top tight end, with his coming-out party taking place in the regular-season finale against Rutgers (four catches, 75 yards, TD).

When Rojas went down last season between the Oregon and UCLA games, everything went wrong.

Penn State allowed 42 points in a stunning upset loss at UCLA, showcasing Rojas’ impact on the defense.

Campbell expects Rojas to be a full-go by the start of fall camp.

Manske came to Iowa State as a blue-chip QB, and transferred to Penn State after Campbell took the job.

He’s expected to back up starter Rocco Becht, and after missing all of spring ball, Campbell confirmed that Manske will be a full-go for fall camp.

“I think it’s monumental,” Campbell said. You know, I think we were obviously with this medical condition that came about. It was one of those, just because you know what Alex has been through a little bit. You know, He had had this incredible senior year and incredible junior year in his high school. His senior year got cut short right before the playoffs because of the Brock Purdy injury to his elbow. So he missed spring ball, his freshman year at Iowa State. He got cleared right as we were heading into fall camp and really had a tremendous fall camp a year ago there. But missed spring, missed the summer. I think where we won tremendously is Alex really got cleared right around the first of June. And there was a process back. And, you know, by July first was actually fully cleared for football. So, you know, He’s been throwing. He’s had the opportunity to go through the majority of our summer program. And, he will be—youk now—he’s ready to go and fully cleared as we start fall camp. So, we think that is a monumental win because Alex certainly—we believe in what his talent level is—the development piece in. When you talk about the first year and a half of his career has been a little bit choppy. And so to be able to have him have man this summer.”

“Have all of fall camp. And as we get into this football season, to continue to grow and develop his skill set. I think that’s huge for us as evaluating Alex, but also for Alex’s confidence to grow forward, so he can be the quarterback of the future of the program.”