Penn State football introduced its new coaching staff. 4 thoughts about the hires
Penn State’s coaching staff had its first media availability of the Matt Campbell era Wednesday afternoon, after transforming the roster in the program through the transfer portal.
Here are my four main takeaways from the new staff, which no longer includes Noah Pauley, the recently-hired wide receivers coach who’s set to leave for the Green Bay Packers.
1. Taylor Mouser is a rising star
It would have been fair to be skeptical of Campbell bringing in an offensive coordinator without conducting a full search, but after speaking with Mouser and getting to understand his offensive philosophy, I don’t know that Campbell was going to find a much better candidate.
Campbell described him as fearless as a play-caller and Mouser emphasized the need for explosiveness on offense in both the running game and passing game. I have to imagine all of that is music to Penn State fans’ ears. The Nittany Lion offense stalled out in recent years in large part because the entire philosophy was too conservative — there was too much playing not to lose rather than playing to win. And it’s clear Mouser doesn’t intend on doing that.
“The games that I’ve had where I don’t feel like I’ve called as good of a game has been like, I’m going out there to not mess it up,” Mouser said. “And you can’t do that.”
His philosophy is one that other programs — and NFL teams — should find highly attractive. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a college head coach or NFL offensive coordinator sooner rather than later.
2. D’Anton Lynn returned to Penn State at the right time
This isn’t Lynn’s first opportunity to return to his alma mater, but it’s his best one. The new defensive coordinator was a target during last year’s search for the same role, according to multiple sources, before he decided to stick with USC. That was likely for the best, because he could have been a part of the coaching staff that ultimately got fired after an abysmal 2025 season that was supposed to end with a national title — or at least serious contention for one.
Instead, Lynn gets to join with a brand-new coaching staff that will give him the runway to run the defense in his image and allow him the time to implement it how he sees fit. And while I remain high on Jim Knowles, who was hired last offseason and left for Tennessee after Campbell was hired, I don’t think Lynn is a drop-off at the position. He relies on scheme versatility and having answers to opposing offenses, which is increasingly important as opponents become more multiple and willing to play in different ways.
I don’t know how Lynn’s tenure will play out, but coming in with lower expectations and a chance to build a defense will be much better for him, and for Penn State, in the long run.
3. Deon Broomfield is a logical successor
The good news for Penn State is that Lynn will have a chance to build up that defense in his image — the bad news is he’s going to be a sought-after candidate for head coaching jobs or NFL defensive coordinator jobs if he has the kind of success I think he can. Fortunately for Campbell and the Nittany Lions, his eventual replacement may already be on the staff. Safeties coach Deon Broomfield is, like Mouser, a rising star in coaching circles and has already been with Lynn previously. He was on the Buffalo Bills’ roster during the 2015 offseason when Lynn coached there and they coached together with the Houston Texans in 2020 when Lynn was the secondary coach and Broomfield was a defensive assistant.
He’ll have the opportunity to continue learning from Lynn as long as he’s the defensive coordinator, and should be able to continue his own growth as a defensive coach. I would expect him to be a candidate for other DC jobs soon, and Penn State would be wise to do what it can to keep him on staff as long as necessary to allow him to be the eventual successor if and when Lynn departs.
4. Rocco Becht compares favorably to a former Nittany Lion
Plenty of the new staff members glowed about Becht and the competitor he is — no matter the sport or situation. On the football field, golf, spike ball, you name it, Becht is going to do whatever it takes to get the win. He’s the son of former NFL tight end Anthony Becht, and Mouser said that’s part of where that competitive fire and toughness comes from.
“He’s got tight end blood in him,” Mouser said. “His dad was a great tight end, so I always tell him he’s not a quarterback, he’s a tight end that’s playing quarterback. He’s got tight end blood in him where you gotta be able to get your face pounded in a little bit and be able to bounce back.”
And there is someone on staff who played at Penn State and had that same fire — Trace McSorley. Becht and McSorley should get along quite well with the assistant quarterbacks coaching being able to relate to the current starter, and that applies to his playing style, too. Becht wants to take risks downfield, he wants to make tight window throws and he wants to create big plays — all things McSorley did in his time with the Nittany Lions. And while Becht had surgery on his non-throwing shoulder this offseason, he should still be back before the end of spring ball.
“He’ll start to throw, probably mid-way through spring ball,” quarterbacks coach Jake Waters said. “He’ll be able to get into some practice, routes on air, seven on seven, we’ll keep him smart, no contact or anything like that. But he’ll be able to throw. He’s going to start running here soon.”
