Campbell's Hiring Spurs Staff, Roster Changes at Penn State, Iowa State

Matt Campbell's arrival as Penn State's new head football coach has triggered significant roster and staff transitions for both the Nittany Lions and his former program at Iowa State, as players and assistants navigate the shifting landscape ahead of the transfer portal's opening on January 2.

Campbell, who left Iowa State after a successful tenure there, replaced James Franklin last month. Early moves to stabilize the Penn State staff include the retention of special teams coordinator Justin Lustig, who joined the program before the 2024 season from Vanderbilt. Lustig's unit provided consistency during a challenging year, extending a streak of 89 games without allowing an opponent special teams touchdown and tying for the national lead with five blocked kicks or punts. Kicker Ryan Barker excelled under his guidance, converting 18 of 19 field goal attempts in 2025 for a school-record 94.7 percent and going 44 of 45 on extra points. Over two seasons, Barker's field goal accuracy reached 89.2 percent, the best in Penn State history. Punter Gabe Nwosu averaged a record 46.1 yards per punt, ranking the team 12th nationally in net punting, while earning All-Big Ten third-team...