Kooper Ebel hasn’t played a regular-season snap inside Beaver Stadium yet, but the Iowa State transfer has already assumed one of the most important jobs on Penn State’s defense.
He has become its voice.
Ebel enters Penn State’s 2026 season as an experienced presence at linebacker, bringing 34 career games and 27 starts with him from Iowa State. But his importance to the Nittany Lions goes beyond the 149 career tackles or the production that made him a proven Big 12 defender.
Penn State linebacker Tony Rojas sees Ebel’s impact every day.
“I think he’s very vocal,” Rojas said. “He’s one of our vocal leaders on the defense and as a team.”
That leadership becomes particularly noticeable when things aren’t going well.
“Whenever we have a bad practice or a bad play, he’ll be one of the first guys to speak up and try to hold everyone accountable as a team and as a defense,” Rojas said.
For a Penn State defense transitioning into the Matt Campbell era, that familiarity carries value. Ebel played under Campbell at Iowa State and understands the expectations being installed in State College.
Now he’s responsible for helping communicate them to his team.
Ebel has been entrusted with the green dot, making him the defensive communicator responsible for receiving calls and helping organize the unit before the snap.
“He’s done a great job with the green dot,” Rojas said. “He’s someone we can rely on, and when moments come, whether they’re good or bad, he’s going to be there and be vocal.”
The production suggests Penn State is getting more than simply a veteran communicator.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Ebel played 664 defensive snaps for Iowa State last season and finished with 77 tackles, including eight tackles for loss, one sack and three pass breakups. Pro Football Focus credited him with 53 tackles while charting 16 missed tackles, and his overall defensive grade climbed to 64.1 after posting a 51.9 mark in 2024.
His run-defense grade improved even more dramatically, rising from 51.3 in 2024 to 65.1 last season.
The numbers also reveal where Ebel can make his biggest impact.
Ebel has the size and experience to operate in the middle of Penn State’s defense. He recorded 39 defensive stops last season, according to PFF, after producing 24 the previous year. His tackling grade remains an area for improvement, but the overall trajectory shows a linebacker who took a significant step forward during his final season at Iowa State.
That experience should complement Rojas, one of Penn State’s most dynamic defensive players.
“I think he’s done a great job, and I’m blessed to be partnered with him,” Rojas said.
For Ebel, though, this season represents something new despite all his experience it will be playing in Beaver Stadium.
During an appearance on the Matt Campbell Coaches Show, Ebel said he was getting chills simply talking about the opportunity to run onto the field and play in front of Penn State fans for the first time.
It’s a new stage for a player Penn State is asking to provide an old quality: dependability.
Ebel has already played more than 1,400 career defensive snaps through three college seasons, started 27 games and now Penn State is putting the communication of its defense in his hands.
And before Ebel has even experienced his first packed Beaver Stadium, his teammates are already listening.
