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5 Players Penn State Needs to Bring Back

Originally posted on Mike Farrell Sports | By Jay Holahan | Last updated Oct 30, 2025 10:55 AM ET

Penn State (3-4, 0-4 Big Ten) has questions that need to be answered heading into next season. Obviously, one of those questions is who will be the 17th head coach in school history and the third in the last 50 years. However, a more pressing issue is who the young players are that Penn State needs to keep heading into next season.

Here, the focus will be on the players who are underclassmen (ie, freshmen and sophomores), who could either come back for their second, third or fourth seasons at State College or leave in the transfer portal.

5. Tight End Andrew Rappleyea, Redshirt Sophomore

Penn State fans have been waiting to see Rappleyea over the past two seasons. He had a season-ending injury last year after starting the opening game against West Virginia (over Tyler Warren). Rap is listed at 6-foot-4 and weighs 251 pounds. He’s been nicknamed “Baby Gronk” and has the makings of becoming an NFL-caliber tight end. What he’s been missing is an offense that can cater to his skills and get him more involved. This season, he has only seven catches for 70 yards.

4. Cornerback Daryus Dixson, Freshman

It’s not often you see a freshman cornerback at Penn State start. The Penn State coaching staff has raved about Dixson during the summer, and he was among the top recruits from the class of 2026. Dixson’s future with Penn State could be indicative of the future of interim head coach Terry Smith, who also served as the cornerbacks coach. If Smith remains on the next head coach’s staff, then Dixson likely will remain a Nittany Lion, but if not, one of the most highly-touted cornerbacks that Penn State has recruited will be taking his talents elsewhere.

3. Offensive Lineman Cooper Cousins, Sophomore

Arguably, the best offensive lineman recruit that James Franklin signed in his time as Penn State head coach is Cousins. He was the top interior offensive lineman recruit nationally and in the state of Pennsylvania in the class of 2025, according to On3.

It’s important to keep the best players in-state at State College, but we’ll see how committed Cousins is to the blue and white and whether or not he will look elsewhere for his junior season.

2. Defensive End Chaz Coleman, Freshman

Like Dixson, Coleman was one of the freshmen who received the highest praise during fall camp. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles was one of Coleman’s biggest cheerleaders during the summer. Unfortunately for Coleman, in the last two games, he’s only seen 12 combined snaps against Northwestern and Iowa.

Whether that’s a sign that the freshman is disgruntled with the ongoing situation in State College is a question that will be answered in the future, and by his commitment to Penn State.

1. Linebacker LaVar Arrington II, Freshman

When Arrington chose to wear the coveted No. 11 jersey for Penn State, it came with a price. Arrington’s father (LaVar Arrington) was a standout linebacker for the Nittany Lions during the Joe Paterno era. In that case, one will assume that you’re committed to the university and not just who the head coach was when you signed to that particular team.

Arrington played against Iowa, which is a sign that he may get more and more playing time during the year’s second half. The next head coach at Penn State will be tasked with honoring the tradition and history of Penn State, and the best way to do so will be to retain one of the best players in school history’s son.

This article first appeared on Mike Farrell Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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