Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546586
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 6 2 9 the offense during the season's first two weeks. Quarterback It's not hard to see why Becht had so much success during his three starting seasons at Iowa State. He shows great pocket awareness, has a strong arm and usually makes the right decision, an un- characteristically shaky start against Temple notwithstanding. Through two games, the Florida native had completed 34 of 45 passes (75.6 per- cent) for 539 yards, with 7 touchdowns and no interceptions. His ability to ad- just was evident on Penn State's first touchdown of the year. When Peoples, his primary target, fell coming out of the backfield, Becht calmly surveyed the field, waited for Howard to get open and delivered a pass that became a 42-yard touchdown. Behind Becht, redshirt freshman Alex Manske has shown why he was a four- star recruit coming out of Algona (Iowa) High. He completed 6 of 8 passes for 57 yards against Marshall in his return to game action after undergoing open- heart surgery in March. Against Temple, he played only briefly at the very end of the game and did not have any passing attempts. Running Back If there's been a sore spot for the Penn State offense through two weeks, it's the running game. Hansen has established himself as the starter, but no ball carrier has emerged as a consistent playmaker. One of 24 Iowa State transfers on the roster, the 6-foot-2, 216-pound Hansen was leading the team with 30 carries for 132 yards, an average of 4.4 yards per at- tempt. Peoples was next with 15 carries for 73 yards, averaging 4.9 yards. Red- shirt junior Cam Wallace had 12 carries for 49 yards, followed by redshirt sopho- more Quinton Martin Jr. with 10 for 38. Martin did not carry the ball against Temple despite showing promise against Marshall. The rotation is still taking shape, but the ground game needs more production from both its backs and its blockers. Wide Receiver The receivers had made a welcome improvement through two games after Penn State's struggles at the position in recent seasons. Howard's sudden emer- gence has been an especially encouraging development. Through two games, the sophomore had a team-high 9 catches for 229 yards and a touchdown. Redshirt senior Chase Sowell and junior Brett Es- kildsen had 7 catches, for 91 and 59 yards, respectively, and 1 touchdown apiece. Beyond Howard, the totals are mod- est, but the receivers are getting open more often and turning short throws into substantial gains. Becht has been willing to spread the ball around, giving Penn State several options when it needs a first down. Tight End Temple's coverage breakdowns left Brahmer wide open at times, despite his hard-to-miss, 6-foot-7 frame. One of the Nittany Lions' tallest players, he had 6 catches for 87 yards and a team-high 3 touchdown receptions through two games. Rappleyea had just 2 catches for 23 yards but was contributing as a run blocker and in pass protection. Redshirt senior Gabe Burkle, who sustained a season-ending knee injury at Iowa State in 2025, adds experience and blocking depth. With Brahmer providing a reliable scoring target, the tight ends look like a strength of this offense. Offensive Line Penn State's new-look offensive line has shown promise, particularly in pass protection, but it will face much stiffer tests. Texas State transfer Brock Riker has handled the starting center job with- out any apparent snapping or commu- nication problems. Redshirt junior left guard Trevor Buhr was the team's high- est-graded pass blocker through two weeks, with a 78.3 mark from Pro Foot- ball Focus. Redshirt junior right tackle Anthony Donkoh is playing well now that he's healthy again, and junior Coo- per Cousins has been solid at right guard. Redshirt freshman Malachi Goodman, a first-year starter at left tackle, is the team's highest-graded run blocker, with PFF giving him a mark of 77.0. Depth remains a concern, as does the line's ability to create consistent run- ning room. The group entered the season looking like a strength, and its pass pro- tection has been encouraging. To meet those expectations, it needs to produce more push in the running game. ■ Receiver Koby Howard caught a 56-yard pass on Penn State's first play from scrimmage against Temple. The sophomore has shown he can get open downfield and has had the passing attack soaring through two games. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL