PSU Football Eyes Midwest Recruits
Penn State football's new coach, Matt Campbell, is shaking things up – he's expanding recruiting into the Midwest [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BhApKiWkIk]. Analyst Allen Trieu says Campbell's got deep ties in Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan – a big shift from PSU's usual East Coast focus.
Campbell's Midwest ties run deep, honed during his time at Toledo (2009-2015) and Iowa State (2016-2025). Before Penn State, Campbell was the head coach at the University of Toledo and Iowa State University. At 32, Toledo made Campbell the youngest head coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2011. His Iowa State teams made two Big 12 Championship Game appearances, in 2020 and 2024. Campbell's success at Iowa State included a historic 11-3 season in 2024, the program's first double-digit win season in 133 years. He also led the Cyclones to a Fiesta Bowl win over Oregon. Analyst Allen Trieu recently joined Rivals as a National Recruiting Analyst, bringing over 20 years of experience and deep connections in the Midwest. He has appeared on Big Ten Network's Signing Day Specials since 2009. Trieu's expertise spans beyond the Midwest, making him a valuable asset in evaluating and reporting on high school talent nationwide. Penn State's 2025 recruiting class is currently ranked around No. 15 nationally. The Nittany Lions' 2026 class is already ranked as high as No. 3. Campbell's efforts could help Penn State tap into Midwest talent like Will Slagle, a top 2027 offensive line prospect from Iowa who decommitted from Iowa State after Campbell's departure.
