Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1544053
2 8 A P R I L 2 0 2 6 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M staff will look to find creative ways to get him the football. Karon Brookins: Campbell liked big receivers when he was at Iowa State, and Brookins fits the template. He didn't play as a true freshman, but based on the avail- able film, he can win contested catches downfield and move the chains in traffic with a massive wingspan. Keith Jones Jr.: The battle behind Sowell is wide open, and Jones could be a contender. At Grambling, he ate up cushion from defensive backs and showed he could make plays above the rim. The question is whether he can do it at the Big Ten level. Lyrick Samuel: Samuel is one of the better fits from PSU's 2025 roster. He's listed last here because at 177 pounds, he has the most ground to cover physically. Z RECEIVER Brett Eskildsen Jr. 6-1 197 Zay Robinson R-Fr. 5-11 189 Peter Gonzalez R-So. 6-2 210 Ben Whitver Fr. 6-2 204 SCOUTING REPORT Brett Eskildsen: Eskildsen has a skill set similar to Sowell's but with more in- termediate routes and run-after-catch usage. He needs to play with greater consistency, but in his second year as a starter, natural progression is expected. Zay Robinson: Robinson got on the field as a true freshman at Iowa State but was targeted just once. His high school tape reveals a well-rounded re- ceiver with significant run-after-catch skills. Pairing that profile with offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser's use of jet sweeps suggests a gadget role in the of- fense. Peter Gonzalez: If you wanted to clone Eskildsen, Gonzalez might be the result. He's bigger than his new team- mate but hasn't been healthy enough to demonstrate those skills since arriving at Penn State in the 2024 class. Ben Whitver: Despite boasting a strong high school tape and excellent testing numbers, Whitver somehow fell through the cracks until Penn State flipped him from James Madison late in the 2026 cycle. He fits the staff's physi- cal profile for a Z receiver, and they'll appreciate his competitive streak. Tight End Y TIGHT END Benjamin Brahmer Sr. 6-7 252 Gabe Burkle R-Sr. 6-6 251 Cooper Alexander R-So. 6-4 243 SCOUTING REPORT Benjamin Brahmer: Iowa State's most reliable offensive performer last sea- son, Brahmer has the ability to threaten the seams of a defense, along with the flexibility to play in the slot or split out wide. He's not an elite separator in space, nor does he have blazing speed, but his positional feel and massive catch radius make him an inviting downfield target. When Penn State goes 13-personnel, ex- pect Brahmer to line up as a receiver. Gabe Burkle: Like Brahmer, Burkle is more of a receiver than a blocker, though he's slightly more consistent in that re- gard than his fellow Iowa State transfer. In two-tight end sets last season, Burkle was attached to the line of scrimmage, while Brahmer moved around the formation. A lower-body injury may limit his athleti- cism somewhat this fall, but he'll still be an integral part of the lineup. Cooper Alexander: Another former Cyclone, Alexander looks more like an F (H-back) tight end, but he served as Iowa State's third Y last year. We'll keep him here for now and reassess if the evidence points elsewhere. F TIGHT END Andrew Rappleyea R-Jr. 6-4 251 Brian Kortovich R-Fr. 6-4 244 or Finn Furmanek R-Jr. 6-3 257 SCOUTING REPORT Andrew Rappleyea: During the homestretch of the 2025 season, Rapple- yea emerged as a key pass catcher for Penn State. The reason we're listing him at the F position is his versatility in the run game. He has a dense frame that allows him to function as a quasi-fullback. Rappleyea can also impact the passing game as a catch-and-run threat on play-action or intermediate concepts. His spring injury is not a long-term concern. Brian Kortovich: Like Rappleyea, Kortovich is a more compact tight end than his Iowa State counterparts. He's one of the most hyper-athletic players on the roster — explosive, agile, and a strong mover in space. He's a prime candidate to develop into an F tight end for the Nit- tany Lions long-term and will have an opportunity to show what he can do with Rappleyea and Burkle sidelined for spring ball. Finn Furmanek: The former walk-on earned a scholarship this offseason from Campbell, a sign of his development. He fits at both tight end spots, but we'll label him an F for now to balance out the six- man room. Offensive Line TACKLE Anthony Donkoh R-Jr. 6-5 332 Garrett Sexton R-So. 6-6 312 or Malachi Goodman R-Fr. 6-6 331 or Owen Aliciene R-Fr. 6-7 302 Kuol Kuol II R-Fr. 6-6 293 Mason Bandhauer Fr. 6-6 310 SCOUTING REPORT At this point, it's impossible to discuss the tackle positions separately. It's essen- tially a blank slate, a position group mostly comprised of returning Penn State players whose retention was a priority for the new staff. Offensive line coach Ryan Clanton has developed NFL talent throughout his career, but he never had this level of depth at Iowa State. How one side plays out will directly affect the other, and players will see time at both right and left tackle this spring. That distinction will matter even- tually, but not yet. Anthony Donkoh: All else being equal, where do you prefer Donkoh? He's one of Penn State's leaders and arguably its most talented player. Playing him at left tackle makes a lot of sense, but do you want to move him to a fourth position in four years? Or is it better to keep him at right tackle, where he's shown so much promise? Either way, Donkoh is missing spring practice with an injury, so we'll have to wait for answers. Garrett Sexton: As a redshirt fresh- man, Sexton lined up primarily at right tackle behind Donkoh and Nolan Rucci.