Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1545007
2 8 J U N E / J U L Y 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 I n college football, improvement never stops. Every day, practice and reps are about honing a set of skills that will provide an edge when the season arrives. With spring practice concluded and the summer nearly at hand, teams across the country are in offseason mode, with players operating in a more self-directed frame. At Penn State, the coaches began prep- arations for this portion of the calendar year by creating individualized plans for each player to follow in the weeks ahead. In order to do that, the staff worked to "get a synopsis of where these players are at right now" head coach Matt Campbell explained. "What are their strengths? What are their weaknesses? And are there gaps in the next 12 weeks that we can do a great job of filling in?" The specific details of each player's plan remain internal, but it's possible to identify the team's weaknesses on pa- per and discuss, generally, which players need to improve for Penn State to have the most complete profile possible head- ing into the 2026 season. For Penn State to reach its full poten- tial as a team, everyone will need to im- prove. But there are a handful of play- ers whose development in the coming weeks will play an outsized role in how the Nittany Lions fare this fall. Below are 10 players — five apiece on offense and defense — who could boost the team's outlook substantially if they're able to have a healthy and productive summer. OFFENSE Malachi Goodman | OT Goodman projects as the team's start- ing left tackle this fall. That's a signifi- cant responsibility for a redshirt fresh- man with no career starts or even any snaps at the college level. Goodman is built for the position both physically and mentally. At 6-foot-6, 331 pounds, he has the right dimensions and athletic gifts. But offensive tackle is arguably the most difficult position in football outside of quarterback, and left tackle carries added weight as the blind-side protector for right-handed quarterbacks. Summer Summer Classes Classes These 10 players could give Penn State a big lift with their growth in the coming weeks T H O M A S F R A N K CA R R | T F R A N K . C A R R @ O N 3 . C O M Malachi Goodman has yet to see a snap at the college level, but he's the Nittany Lions' likely starter at left tackle this fall. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER