Blue-White finale: Matt Canada closes Penn State spring with a new-look offense
- Penn State closed spring Saturday with its first Blue-White Practice under coach Matt Campbell, using a rain-soaked, 12:15 p.m. open workout at Beaver Stadium instead of the program’s usual scored spring game. - Quarterback Rocco Becht threw in 7-on-7 drills while recovering from shoulder surgery, and Penn State’s backup quarterbacks combined for eight 11-on-11 drives that produced two touchdowns, two field goals and two interceptions. - The event was the public debut of Campbell’s rebuilt roster after he was hired on Dec. 8, 2025, with Penn State adding 39 transfers in January. (gopsusports.com 1) (gopsusports.com 2)
Penn State ended spring Saturday with a Blue-White Practice, not a spring game, as Matt Campbell put his new roster through an open workout at Beaver Stadium. (gopsusports.com) (si.com) The practice was moved up to 12:15 p.m. because of weather, and Penn State ran position periods, 7-on-7 work and 11-on-11 sessions in steady rain. (gopsusports.com) (si.com) Campbell’s most important public update came at quarterback. Rocco Becht, the projected starter, threw in 7-on-7 drills and connected with wide receiver Zay Robinson for a touchdown while continuing his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery. (si.com) (sports.yahoo.com) Becht did not take part in the live 11-on-11 scrimmage periods when contact was allowed, and Alex Manske missed the spring altogether. Campbell said on March 24 that Becht was already ahead of schedule physically. (si.com) (gopsusports.com) The backup quarterback picture looked less settled. StateCollege.com counted eight 11-on-11 drives from Connor Barry, Peyton Falzone, Kase Evans and Jack Lambert that produced two touchdowns, two field goals and two interceptions. (statecollege.com) One interception came when Daryus Dixson picked off Barry after pressure in the pocket. Another turned into a pick-6 when Josiah Zayas jumped Falzone’s screen pass off the edge. (statecollege.com) (si.com) The run game gave the offense more traction than the pass game. Carson Hansen continued to work with the first team, while James Peoples scored one of the two 11-on-11 touchdowns and drew praise for his vision in other periods. (statecollege.com) Saturday also served as a first public look at Campbell’s overhaul of the program. Penn State says Campbell was hired Dec. 8, 2025, and the school announced 39 transfer additions to the 2026 roster on Jan. 16. (gopsusports.com 1) (gopsusports.com 2) That helps explain the format change. Penn State announced on April 2 that this year’s event would be an open practice, and Campbell had said he wanted players to feel Beaver Stadium with fans in it before the fall. (gopsusports.com) (si.com) The spring closed with more clues than conclusions: Becht looked healthy enough to throw, the backs found room in live work, and Penn State heads to summer with depth-chart battles still open behind the starting quarterback. (si.com) (statecollege.com)
