5 young players Penn State football must keep in 2026
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These Penn State football players, on the verge of their longest losing streak in 21 years, claim they are still strongly motivated during the most stunning collapse in college football.
The Nittany Lions must somehow conquer No. 2 Indiana Saturday, in their return to Beaver Stadium, to avoid their first six-game losing streaks since the 2003 and 2004 seasons.
The focus then, should be on the youngest standouts on the teams — the ones who claim they have plenty yet to play for, including the next head coaching staff. They could still even make the postseason, if they can defeat three struggling opponents to end November.
“Our motivation is for each other in the locker room. The seniors, this is their last time playing college football and we don’t want to send our seniors off to the next level on a worse note than what it is now,” junior safety King Mack said this week.
“All we can do as a team is play for our brothers, which we do. We motivate each other. There’s no motivation better than hearing it from your brother, someone who you put blood, sweat and tears on the field for. The energy in the locker room is great. Everyone is at high spirits because we get to play the game we love.
“And yeah, the outcome isn’t coming out how we want it. But like I said before, we got to get ourselves out of the storm. We know that we put ourselves in it, and the only person that could get ourselves out is us.”
Here are five of the youngest, most important Lions to watch on Saturday — players the program hope will stay in 2026:
Ethan Grunkemeyer, quarterback
What redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer has lacked in downfield passing success he’s made up for in smoothly running the offense in his first games at Iowa and No. 1 Ohio State.
The former four-star quarterback recruit looks like a leader and bears watching closely as his confidence increases over the final four games.
“He’s got tremendous arm talent. He’s got an NFL arm,” said Brad Maendler, the Ohio quarterback coach who tutors Grunkemeyer and Drew Allar. “As he gets more time you’re really going to see that.”
Koby Howard, wide receiver
The coaching staff has raved about true freshman receiver Kobe Howard since winter workouts, so it’s still a bit of a mystery why he hasn’t seen more field time yet.
He does have the team’s longest receptions the past two games. Could he be sitting on a breakout performance in November?
“We got to get him an opportunity to get out there and shine,” interim head coach Terry Smith said this week. “You know, that’s my job, and Koby is going to be on the field on Saturday.”
Chaz Coleman, defensive end
Chaz Coleman has shown the most athletic promise in the rookie class despite limited work in Big Ten play.
He’s 6-foot-4, 250 pounds and moves like a future All-American edge rusher.
His nose for the ball is unquestioned, evidenced by his strip sack against Florida International, his fumble recovery and return at Ohio State and his near-forced fumble vs. Oregon.
King Mack, safety
The effervescent junior is playing a major role for the first time after transferring back from Alabama.
He’s one of the fastest and top-effort defenders and seems to possess future captain abilities. He’s fourth on the team with 31 tackles and shares a starting spot with promising redshirt freshman Antoine Belgrave-Shorter.
“The love I have for Penn State, it’s like no other. I wanted to come back because what’s here at Penn State, it isn’t everywhere else,” Mack said this week. “So, yes, we’re in a storm. Yes, it’s hard. But we’re gonna get ourselves out …
“We’re going through tough times, but these tough times, you can either look at it as a positive for growth, so you won’t make that same mistake again, or you could sit there and just dwell on it and let the storm run over you.”
Xavier Gilliam, defensive tackle
The redshirt freshman defensive lineman has been impressively steady so far.
Xavier Gilliam (11 total tackles, 1.5 for loss) has stayed healthy and continues to get big minutes as a backup. One of the team’s strongest defenders could be more of a difference-maker down the stretch.
His biggest play so far? His blocked field goal at Iowa that was returned for a touchdown on the final play of the first half.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: 5 Penn State football players to lead vs Indiana, star in 2026
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