UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State returned to the practice field Thursday for its second preseason workout as preparations continued for the Sept. 5 season opener against Marshall.
Here are our biggest observations from Day 2 outside Holuba Hall.
Rocco Becht Looks Ready To Make The Most Of His Final Season
Watching Rocco Becht during 7-on-7 work and team drills, one thing stood out immediately: how comfortable and in control he looked.
The veteran quarterback consistently found the right receiver, showed excellent timing with transfer wideout Koby Howard and wasn’t afraid to work through his progressions. When the play called for it, he leaned on his tight ends, but what impressed the most was his ball placement. Becht repeatedly put the football where only his receivers had a chance to make the play.
His best throw of the afternoon came on a deep sideline completion to Brett Eskildsen with Audavion Collins in coverage.
It’s early in camp, but he looks every bit like a quarterback intent on maximizing his final college season.
Alex Manske Looks Like The Early QB2
There’s no rush to talk about Penn State’s quarterback of the future with Becht leading the offense, but if preseason practices are any indication, Alex Manske has positioned himself as the clear frontrunner for the backup role.
Manske isn’t as polished as Becht yet, but the talent is evident. He made several impressive sideline throws and showed good touch on passes over the middle to the tight ends.
Manske connected with Zay Robinson on a throw that looked like something you’d expect from a starting quarterback.
Koby Howard Continues To Impress
Howard has generated plenty of offseason buzz, and it’s easy to understand why after seeing him in person.
He looks noticeably stronger than he did a year ago without sacrificing any of his explosiveness. His acceleration jumped out immediately, and he consistently created separation with sharp cuts and sudden bursts.
His movement style brings back memories of KJ Hamler, although Howard has the physical tools to carve out his own identity. If Thursday was any indication, he’s going to be one of the most dynamic players in Penn State’s offense.
James Peoples Shows Off Elite Footwork
One of the first players who caught my attention was running back James Peoples.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.During individual drills led by running backs coach Savon Huggins, Peoples displayed outstanding footwork through the bags and change-of-direction work. He’s remarkably light on his feet for his build, and when he accelerates, he reaches another gear quickly.
The competition in the backfield will continue throughout camp, but Peoples certainly looked capable of earning significant carries this fall.
Caleb Bacon Getting Work At Defensive End
One of the more interesting developments Thursday involved Caleb Bacon.
The Iowa State transfer spent time working with the defensive ends, suggesting Penn State is exploring ways to create additional depth and versatility along the defensive front.
Bacon excelled as a pass rusher last season, posting a 71.4 Pro Football Focus pass-rush grade which led all Iowa State front seven defenders with more than 250 defensive snaps. With Ike Ezeogu appearing to lead one EDGE spot and Yvan Kemajou and Max Granville competing opposite him, Bacon’s versatility could allow defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, defensive line coach Ikakai Malloe, and EDGE rushers coach Christian Smith to create different pass-rush packages.
His ability to move around the front could become an important wrinkle in Penn State’s defensive scheme.
Offensive Line Competition Remains Wide Open
Matt Campbell and offensive line coach Ryan Clanton aren’t tipping their hand when it comes to the starting five.
Former five-star recruit Malachi Goodman spent much of Thursday working with the second unit, while Garrett Sexton and Owen Aliciene saw reps with the first team. Trevor Buhr rotated between both groups.
Rather than reading too much into individual reps, the bigger takeaway is that Penn State appears committed to evaluating depth. Campbell and Clanton seem determined to find out whether this group can truly be two-deep across the offensive line before settling on a starting combination.
Freshman To Watch: Amarion Jackson
Freshman receiver Amarion Jackson continues to flash whenever the ball finds him.
The Omaha, Nebraska, native was used in motion and in space, where his quickness created matchup problems throughout practice. He looked comfortable operating in the open field and showed the kind of explosiveness that can earn a young player early opportunities.
With Howard, Brett Eskildsen and Chase Sowell leading the receiver room, there’s still plenty of competition for additional snaps. Jackson, along with Zay Robinson and Lyrick Samuel, appears to be firmly in the mix as camp continues.
