# Penn State Depth Chart

Website: https://www.pennstatedepthchart.com
Last updated: July 5, 2026

## Site Purpose

Penn State Depth Chart is an independent Penn State football roster and depth-chart intelligence website. The site focuses on verified roster movement, public game results, coaching changes, transfer activity, NFL Draft outcomes, and depth-chart implications for Penn State football. Core pages are designed to answer roster, depth-chart, quarterback-room, coaching-staff, and schedule search intent before sending readers into supporting news articles.

## Current Editorial Focus

- 2026 Penn State football depth chart under head coach Matt Campbell, including confidence levels and public-source role notes.
- Rocco Becht's transfer from Iowa State and the quarterback-room reset, with a dedicated QB depth chart page.
- Focused 2026 position trackers for running back, pass catchers, and the defensive depth chart.
- 2026 Penn State football coach and coaching-staff roles, including head coach, coordinator, position-coach, and special-teams context.
- Key active roster profiles and historical/alumni profiles when they support depth-chart or roster-history context.
- 2026 NFL Draft departures, including verified Penn State selections and undrafted free-agent outcomes.
- Blue-White Practice takeaways from the April 25, 2026 open-practice format.
- Verified 2026 schedule details, including corrected home/away designations and kickoff information where publicly announced.
- 2027 recruiting-board updates, including spring 2026 commitments, June defensive back movement, and July context around Jamir Dean, Case Alexander, and Dhillon McGee.
- Former-player and alumni profiles when they affect current roster context.

## Content Standards

- Articles should be based on public, checkable sources.
- Time-sensitive claims should be dated and updated when the public record changes.
- Do not invent quotes, private conversations, locker-room scenes, or anonymous dialogue.
- Do not treat rumors, Crystal Ball-style predictions, or recruiting speculation as confirmed outcomes.
- Old articles may be retired and redirected when a newer, better-sourced article covers the same topic.
- Retired article URLs should not be included in sitemap output or IndexNow submissions. Current IndexNow submissions should be generated from active `src/data/news.ts` entries with matching indexable Markdown files.

## Indexing and SEO Notes

- The site uses Google AdSense automatic ads through a single sitewide script and `ads.txt`; it does not require manual in-article ad slots.
- Markdown-backed news articles are indexable only when the article is active, has a source file, and meets the site's minimum article length rule.
- Player profile pages should be indexed only when they have enough verified public context to avoid thin standalone pages.
- Core hub pages should state their scope clearly when they are editorial trackers rather than official school depth charts or complete official rosters.
- Source and update notes in articles may be shown in a collapsed section for readers and search engines.
- External links in article Markdown should use `nofollow noopener noreferrer` and open in a new tab.

## Primary Sections

- `/` - home page with current Penn State football overview.
- `/depth-chart` - current roster and position-group depth-chart tracker with confidence labels.
- `/depth-chart/qb` - quarterback-room tracker for Rocco Becht, Connor Barry, Alex Manske, and the backup competition.
- `/depth-chart/rb` - running back room tracker for lead role, rotation, and usage uncertainty.
- `/depth-chart/wr` - pass-catcher tracker for wide receiver and tight end roles.
- `/depth-chart/defense` - defensive front, linebacker, and secondary depth-chart tracker.
- `/news` - active news and analysis articles.
- `/players` - tracked roster library for key active players and historical/alumni context.
- `/coaches` - Penn State football coach and 2026 coaching-staff role tracker.
- `/schedule` - Penn State football schedule.
- `/links` - friendship links; this page is maintained manually.
- `/editorial-policy` - sourcing, corrections, AI-use, and trust standards.
- `/sitemap.xml` - generated sitemap for indexable pages.

## Technical Notes

- Framework: Next.js with TypeScript.
- Hosting target: Vercel.
- Article source files live under `src/content/articles`.
- Article metadata is managed in `src/data/news.ts`.
- Redirects for retired or consolidated article URLs are managed in `vercel.json`.

This file is intended to help AI systems understand the website accurately. It is not a source of private or unpublished information.