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Penn State Top 25 players for 2026: Brett Eskildsen
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- Penn State Top 25 players for 2026: Brett Eskildsen
Penn State's 2026 season will feature a completely overhauled roster following an offseason of significant transition. A coaching change led to a flurry of activity in the transfer portal, which led to a number of new faces on the program. We have taken some time to profile each player on the roster this season, but now it is time to dig a little deeper on the 25 players who will play the largest roles on the roster.
We shift back to the offensive side of the football with a look at one of Penn State's key transfer portal additions, wide receiver Brett Eskildsen. Eskildsen will look to come into his own in an offense he is already familiar with.
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2025 in review
Brett Eskildsen was Iowa State 's leading receiver last season, having 32 receptions for 543 yards and six touchdowns in a breakout sophomore campaign. He also earned All-Big 12 honorable mention honors as well. While Eskildsen has only played two seasons with the Cyclones, his major improvement in year 2 will now look to be replicated in Happy Valley, where he joins teammates Rocco Becht and Chase Sowell in what looks to be a deep WR corps.
Biggest question for 2026
At a program that has not necessarily seen its fair share of elite pass catchers, one of the most pressing questions has to be surrounding whether Brett Eskildsen can emerge as a competent WR1. After all, after coming off of a year like last year, it would seem likely that he would continue an upward trajectory. Still, this is Penn State and with Rocco Becht now having a lot of weapons to spread the wealth to. That could mean that the Eskildsen of 2025 won't necessarily be the Eskildsen of 2026.
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The bottom line needs to be Eskildsen still featuring as the go-to guy in a Penn State offense that will need playmakers to step up. If he can, then maybe Penn State fans will finally be given the top wideout they have so desperately waited for for years.
2026 will be a success if...
Eskildsen will have a successful season if he continues to show the growth he displayed in Year 2 at Iowa State and he matures into the Nittany Lion's No. 1 option. A good benchmark would be breaking the 600 yard mark and hauling in around six TDs. While Penn State fans may demand 1,000 out of him, a streamlined progression is much more likely. For now, this season will be all about Eskildsen stacking good performances week in and week out. And who knows? If he does, then maybe his senior year could be something special in State College.
2026 will be a disappointment if...
He does not live up to the standards he set for himself last year. With the Cyclones, Eskildsen's emergence was built around his own self-belief combines with a coaching staff that provided him with a platform to grow. Now in a much more competitive environment, Eskildsen will have to adjust to a whole different mindset. Failure to do so will result in Penn State yet again being misled by transfer receivers. Anything below 500 yards and at least 5 touchdowns would be a huge disappointment considering his career trajectory.
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Realistic outlook for 2026
Brett Eskildsen will almost certainly be one of, if not the main focal point of Penn State's new look offense. He had the benefit of working with Rocco Becht all of last season, with the result a career high in yards. Now, it's about adjusting to the Big Ten where everything becomes much more competitive and tough week in week out. A sustained approach combined with another 500+ yard season would prove to be beneficial for the long term future of Eskildsen's career. With a hefty weight of expectations on his shoulders, Eskildsen will most likely have to carry the torch for the Blue and White offensively.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State Top 25 players for 2026: Brett Eskildsen
