This article has been updated as of May 13, 2026 to remove encoding errors, scouting claims not tied to public sourcing, and overly broad “package deal” language. The verified story is still important: several former Iowa State commitments became part of Penn State’s 2026 recruiting reset after Matt Campbell arrived.
The First Wave
StateCollege.com reported that Penn State added three-star safeties Bryson Williams and Tyrell Chatman in mid-December 2025. Both had been committed to Iowa State before Campbell took the Penn State job.
Onward State and StateCollege.com also reported that quarterback Kase Evans committed to Penn State on December 14 after being released from his Iowa State signing. Evans joined Peyton Falzone in the 2026 quarterback class.
Lucas Tenbrock, a punter from Illinois, was another former Iowa State signee who moved to Penn State during the same early wave. StateCollege.com reported that Tenbrock became Penn State’s third commitment in a 24-hour span.
Offensive Line Additions
The later December offensive-line flips were Pete Eglitis and Mason Bandhauer. StateCollege.com reported on December 23 that both linemen committed to Penn State within an hour of each other after previously being part of Iowa State’s 2026 class.
That offensive-line angle matters because Campbell brought Ryan Clanton to Penn State as offensive line coach. The staff connection helps explain why those players were natural early targets, but the article should not assume immediate playing time for high school signees.
What It Meant for the 2026 Class
Penn State’s 2026 high school class had been damaged by the coaching transition. The early Campbell flips did not instantly turn it into a normal top Penn State class, but they gave the staff enough volume to start rebuilding the board.
The more accurate framing is roster stabilization. Williams, Chatman, Tenbrock, Evans, Eglitis, and Bandhauer gave the new staff players it already knew and had evaluated. That matters in a shortened recruiting window.
Current Takeaway
These flips should be treated as a transition-class foundation, not as proof that every Iowa State commit was automatically a Penn State fit. They were useful because they filled immediate class needs and gave the new staff familiarity during a compressed December.
For current site coverage, the 2026 class should be paired with the transfer-portal reset. Campbell’s first roster was built through both high school recruiting repairs and a much larger transfer group.
The next step is to track whether these players remain part of the roster plan once summer enrollment, fall camp, and future depth charts clarify their paths. Until then, the verified value of the flips is historical and roster-building context, not a claim that the class has already produced contributors.
This article should also avoid confusing early commitments with signed and enrolled players unless the source being cited makes that status clear. December recruiting movement happened fast, and the safest writing keeps each status tied to the date it was reported.
Sources and update notes
This update was checked against StateCollege.com reports on Bryson Williams, Tyrell Chatman, Lucas Tenbrock, Kase Evans, Pete Eglitis, and Mason Bandhauer; Onward State’s Kase Evans report; 247Sports composite references cited in local coverage; and Penn State’s public 2026 class context.