2026 public-source tracker

Penn State Football Depth Chart 2026

A position-by-position 2026 Nittany Lions roster board for QB, RB, pass catchers, defensive front, secondary, and specialists.

How To Read This Board

This is an independent depth chart, not an official Penn State two-deep. Roster status comes from the school; position order reflects game usage and reported roles where that evidence is available.

Each position board shows the players in the conversation, the latest relevant game evidence and where the order remains unsettled.

Post-Northwestern update

Penn State Is 3-2; USC White Out Is Next

Northwestern won 34-13 after rushing for 413 yards. Becht remains QB1, Sowell had five catches for 68 yards and a touchdown, and Rojas recorded 12 tackles. Howard's return date is unconfirmed. This independent tracker separates verified game usage from projections and matchup-specific injury reports.

Read the Northwestern recap

Position Boards

Explore the position trackers, with current game evidence separated from earlier roster and usage context.

QBRBWR/TEDefense

Offense

Quarterback

High confidence

Becht remains the game-confirmed starter after Northwestern, when he passed for 243 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. The loss does not establish a QB change; Manske is the earlier first-reserve usage reference.

Starter and earlier reserve evidence

  • Rocco Becht
  • Alex Manske
  • Connor Barry
  • Kase Evans

Roster references below are not a ranked two-deep.

QB

Rocco Becht

#3 / QB / Redshirt Senior

Profile
QB

Alex Manske

#7 / QB / Redshirt Freshman

Profile
QB

Connor Barry

#10 / QB / Redshirt Senior

Profile
View position page

Offense

Running Back

Medium confidence

Peoples led the Wisconsin ground game. The carry distribution is a dated usage sample, not a permanent first-string declaration; the broader committee remains part of the room.

Wisconsin rushing usage — September 26

  • Wisconsin: James Peoples 67 yards, 14 carries
  • Wisconsin: Quinton Martin Jr. 14 yards, 6 carries
  • Wisconsin: Carson Hansen 11 yards, 4 carries
  • Cam Wallace: earlier Buffalo explosive-play evidence

Roster references below are not a ranked two-deep.

RB

James Peoples

#1 / RB / Junior

Profile
RB

Quinton Martin Jr.

#25 / RB / Redshirt Sophomore

Profile
RB

Carson Hansen

#21 / RB / Senior

Roster
RB

Cam Wallace

#26 / RB / Redshirt Junior

Roster
View position page

Offense

Wide Receiver / Tight End

High confidence

Sowell caught five passes for 68 yards and a touchdown at Northwestern. Howard was out and faces an extended, non-season-ending absence; no return date is confirmed. Old availability reports do not establish USC statuses.

Northwestern receiving and dated availability notes

  • Chase Sowell: 5 catches, 68 yards, TD vs. Northwestern
  • Koby Howard: out vs. Northwestern; no confirmed return date
  • Andrew Rappleyea: historical September 25 Wisconsin questionable designation
  • Benjamin Brahmer: 2 TD vs. Temple; Eskildsen / Robinson: receiving-role references

Roster references below are not a ranked two-deep.

WR

Brett Eskildsen

#4 / WR / Junior

Profile
TE

Benjamin Brahmer

#18 / TE / Senior

Profile
WR

Chase Sowell

#0 / WR / Redshirt Senior

Profile
View position page

Defense

Defensive Front

Medium confidence

Northwestern rushed for 413 yards while Granville and three other edge players were listed out. Earlier usage supports these front-rotation references, not a final USC lineup. Package usage matters more than a fixed four-player label.

Front rotation references — not a new game-day order

  • EDGE references: Yvan Kemajou / Ikenna Ezeogu
  • Interior references: Siale Taupaki / Liam Andrews
  • Broader front references: Jackson Ford / Armstrong Nnodim / Caleb Bacon

Roster references below are not a ranked two-deep.

DE

Ikenna Ezeogu

#1 / DE / Redshirt Senior

Roster
DT

Siale Taupaki

#92 / DT / Redshirt Senior+

Profile
DT

Dallas Vakalahi

#98 / DT / Junior

Profile
View position page

Defense

Linebacker / Secondary

Watch confidence

Rojas led the defensive stat line and Zayas recovered a fumble at Northwestern. Joshua Johnson, Tyler Armstead and Christian Askew were listed out; those statuses do not confirm a new USC secondary order.

Northwestern production and secondary references

  • Northwestern: Tony Rojas 12 tackles, 3.5 TFL, sack; Josiah Zayas fumble recovery
  • LB references: Tony Rojas / Kooper Ebel
  • CB / nickel references: Daryus Dixson / Audavion Collins / Zion Tracy
  • Safety references: Marcus Neal Jr. / Jeremiah Cooper

Roster references below are not a ranked two-deep.

LB

Tony Rojas

#13 / LB / Redshirt Junior

Profile
CB

Zion Tracy

#7 / CB / Senior

Profile
S

Marcus Neal Jr.

#31 / S / Junior

Roster
View position page

Special Teams

Kicker / Punter

Medium confidence

Barker made a 37-yard third-quarter field goal against Wisconsin. His Marshall kicking line is earlier background; return and specialist package roles still require current participation evidence.

Dated specialist evidence

  • Kicker: Ryan Barker (37-yard FG vs. Wisconsin; 38-yard FG, 6 PAT vs. Marshall)
  • Punter reference: Lucas Tenbrock
  • Return roles: still tracking
  • Long snapper reference: Blaise Sokach-Minnick

Roster references below are not a ranked two-deep.

CB

Zion Tracy

#7 / CB / Senior

Profile
WR

Chase Sowell

#0 / WR / Redshirt Senior

Profile

2026 tickets

Find Penn State Tickets

Compare third-party ticket listings after checking the roster notes above. Depth-chart order is editorial and is not based on ticket availability.

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Depth Chart FAQ

Is this the official Penn State football depth chart?

No. This is an independent public-source depth chart tracker. Official roster status comes first, while starter order and role language are labeled as editorial projections until public game usage or school releases confirm them.

How often is the Penn State depth chart updated?

The latest update follows the October 2 Northwestern game. Position notes change when a new roster listing, availability report or game shows a meaningful change in playing time or role.

Why does the page use confidence labels?

Confidence labels separate confirmed roster context from projection. A veteran starter candidate can have a high-confidence role read, while backup order or specialist jobs may remain watch items until there is stronger evidence.

What sources support this tracker?

Penn State and Northwestern game reports establish the October 2 result and player totals. The dated availability report identifies Northwestern absences. Howard was out; no USC return date has been announced.

Depth Chart Rules

Official roster status comes first. A player is not treated as active just because an older article mentioned him.

Transfer production is context, not a Penn State guarantee. Role language stays cautious until 2026 usage confirms it.

Future recruiting commitments are not counted as current depth-chart answers.