Penn State HC Matt Campbell Reveals Which Freshman Has Stood Out the Most

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The Penn State Nittany Lions are ushering in a new era after they hired Matt Campbell as their head coach to replace James Franklin.

Campbell brings extensive experience to this job, having had a successful decade-long tenure at Iowa State. In those 10 years, Campbell held a 72-55 record and was named Big 12 Coach of the Year three times.

With a bigger school, Campbell has brought in a ton of talent via the transfer portal and has made great additions for future classes. He has a shot to turn the program around after a brutal 2025 season, finishing 7-6 despite expectations of being a contender for the National Championship.

Heading into 2026, Campbell was asked which freshman had stood out most during fall camp, and he answered defensive end Jackson Ford.

Ford is a four-star recruit who could develop into a great pass rusher for the Nittany Lions. He played well throughout his career at Malvern Prep. In his freshman year, he had 25 solo tackles and six sacks. He followed it up in his sophomore year with 22 solo tackles, seven tackles for loss, and five sacks. 

In his junior year, Ford recorded 29 solo tackles, nine tackles for loss, and six sacks. As a senior, Ford had 30 solo tackles, six tackles for loss, four sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and three passes defended.

While Ford may not be a star in his freshman campaign, he could be a rotational pass rusher for them right away. 

Penn State has a ton of talent on the roster and should be more competitive in the 2026 season under Campbell. However, it will be difficult to be a contender, especially in the Big Ten with teams like Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, Michigan, and USC.

However, in the long term, the Nittany Lions are in a great place under Campbell, and the 2026 season is all about showcasing their potential for a bright future.

Penn State will look for freshmen like Ford to impress in their roles and show potential to become stars in the coming years.

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