Penn State Lands Transfer Portal Running Back

Penn State football head coach Matt Campbell is getting to work on the recruiting trail. Penn State football head coach Matt Campbell is getting to work on the transfer portal recruiting trail. (Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images)

Penn State Lands Transfer Portal Running Back

Originally posted on Nittany Central | By Ian Purdy | Last updated Jan 4, 2026 7:23 PM ET

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The Penn State Football transfer portal class is set to keep growing. Iowa State transfer Running Back Carson Hansen has committed to Penn State. Hansen will have one year of eligibility left.

Hansen is a talented Running Back out of Minnesota. He is a beefy, 6-2, 220 pounds. As a prospect he was under recruited, but quickly became productive with the Cyclones.

Over 1,500 Career Yards: What Hansen Brings to the Table

During Hansen’s time in Ames he compiled 1,771 rushing yards on 361 carries and 19 touchdowns. Hansen’s most productive season came in 2025 when he gained 952 yards on the ground and scored 6 touchdowns. Those numbers were good for 5.1 yards per carry, making him Iowa State’s leading rusher.

As far as style goes, Hansen is a physical, downhill runner. He has really good burst, but doesn’t necessarily have breakaway speed. He’s a very solid Running Back.

Another thing worth mentioning is that Carson Hansen is familiar with splitting carries. Last season, Hansen carried the rock 188 times and Abu Sama carried it 140 times. I would envision a very similar distribution of carries with Hansen and Quinton Martin.

Penn State is getting a very proven, and productive Running Back in Carson Hansen. He should pair very nicely with current Nittany Lion, Quinton Martin.

This article first appeared on Nittany Central and was syndicated with permission.

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