Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1544053
A P R I L 2 0 2 6 2 7 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M cent of his attempts each of the past two seasons. Alex Manske: Becht's presumed backup, Manske is an athletic redshirt freshman with a strong arm. He has po- tential as both a passer and runner thanks to his size and physical tools. However, his footwork and lower-body mechanics need work. Manske throws with a linear, baseball-style motion that lifts his back foot during the throw. He'll have to clean that up before he's ready to start at Penn State. Connor Barry: A highly productive signal-caller at the Division III level, Barry is looking to compete for the backup job. He doesn't have the same physical tools as the scholarship quarterbacks, but he did play a lot of football at Christopher Newport University and could serve as a capable emergency option. Kase Evans: Evans is built like Man- ske but has cleaner mechanics. He's an aggressive downfield passer who looks for big plays. However, his football IQ needs development after playing in a high school offense that relied heavily on his running ability. Peyton Falzone: Falzone is a long- term project. He possesses rare athletic tools, but his throwing motion and foot- work need refinement. Because the cur- rent staff did not recruit him, Falzone will need to prove he can develop into a reli- able signal-caller. Running Back Carson Hansen Sr. 6-2 220 James Peoples Jr. 5-10 210 Quinton Martin Jr. R-So. 6-1 204 Cam Wallace R-Jr. 5-9 204 D'Antae Sheffey Fr. 5-11 202 SCOUTING REPORT Carson Hansen: The workhorse of Iowa State's backfield in 2025, Hansen has the size and physical running style to excel in the Big Ten. He's a smart, durable ball carrier with good vision who rarely loses yardage. Hansen may not possess elite speed or explosiveness, but he provides stability as the lead back in a committee. James Peoples: The former Ohio State running back adds explosiveness and big- play potential to PSU's backfield. Peoples offers a balanced skill set that should al- low him to contribute both inside and outside while providing more home-run potential than Hansen. Quinton Martin Jr.: Martin entered spring practice as the third option in the room. However, the depth chart is less es- tablished than in previous seasons, giving him a chance to earn a role. He's a natu- ral receiver out of the backfield and has strong instincts as a runner. Cam Wallace: Before suffering in- juries to both ankles in 2024, Wallace was developing into a quality all-around player. He's a capable athlete who could surprise if he returns to full health. D'Antae Sheffey: The State College native joined Penn State's 2026 class shortly after the coaching transition. Scheffey has a leaner frame than the play- ers above him, but he consistently breaks tackles and plays with more toughness and burst than his size suggests. Wide Receiver X RECEIVER (PROJECTED) Chase Sowell R-Sr. 6-3 205 or Koby Howard So. 5-11 201 or Karon Brookins R-Fr. 6-5 207 or Keith Jones Jr. R-So. 6-4 197 or Lyrick Samuel R-Fr. 6-4 177 SCOUTING REPORT Chase Sowell: Iowa State's starting X receiver in 2025, Sowell is big and explo- sive. He's a good jump-ball receiver with the potential to take over any game. He did have 6 drops last year, so consistency will be important. This is his year to put it all together and position himself as an NFL prospect. Koby Howard: Howard doesn't have the massive catch radius of Sowell or some of the other players listed here, nor does he possess game-breaking vertical speed. However, he's a playmaker, and the Receiver Koby Howard started four games as a true freshman, finishing with 7 catches for 133 yards. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL