Penn State's Rocco Becht Working to 'Recondition' His Arm This Spring

The Nittany Lions quarterback updates his progress during spring practice.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 10:53pm

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Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht has been limited in his participation during spring practice as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery. Becht is focusing on mental reps and working with his receivers to get on the same page, while the coaching staff takes a cautious approach to his return to full team activities. With backup Alex Manske also sidelined, three new quarterbacks are getting increased reps, including Division III transfer Connor Barry who has impressed the coaching staff.

Why it matters

Becht's recovery and return to full strength is crucial for Penn State's offense this season. The Nittany Lions are breaking in a new starting quarterback and will need Becht to be healthy and leading the team. The coaching staff's careful approach to Becht's rehab highlights the importance of player safety and long-term health, especially for a key position like quarterback.

The details

Becht had surgery on his non-throwing shoulder to repair a torn labrum after last season at Iowa State. He played through the injury for much of the 2025 season. Penn State quarterbacks coach Jake Waters said the focus has been on 'reconditioning the right shoulder' to make sure Becht is fully healthy before increasing his workload. Becht has been limited to throwing routes on air and has not participated in seven-on-seven drills yet. Despite the limitations, Becht has been heavily involved mentally, working on his leadership and going through reads and progressions.

  • Becht had surgery on his non-throwing shoulder after last season at Iowa State.
  • Becht has not thrown a football in four months as Penn State has focused on reconditioning his arm.

The players

Rocco Becht

The Penn State quarterback who is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and taking a cautious approach to spring practice.

Jake Waters

The Penn State quarterbacks coach overseeing Becht's recovery and return to full participation.

Matt Campbell

The Penn State head coach who believes the quarterback should be a leader and 'attached at the hip' with the head coach.

Alex Manske

The Penn State redshirt freshman quarterback transfer from Iowa State who is also recovering from an offseason procedure and will miss spring practice.

Connor Barry

A Division III transfer quarterback who has impressed the Penn State coaching staff with his performance during spring practice.

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What they’re saying

“'He had to get shot up every Tuesday and Wednesday just to practice the last four weeks in his throwing shoulder and play, and the guy gave us every chance to win every one of those games every step of the way.'”

— Matt Campbell, Penn State head coach

“'We just don't want to throw him out there if you've only thrown 10 yards and then go throw live reps, and could have to make a 50-yard throw. So we're trying to recondition his arm to make sure it feels good. So he's still working, and he looked really good the past couple days, and [it's] just getting the conditioning back before we kind of throw him in there is kind of our thought process.'”

— Jake Waters, Penn State quarterbacks coach

“'I would just say holistically, anytime you're watching the quarterback's growth process from the start of his career to the end of the career, you hope by the time he gets to the last portion of his career, he's almost the offensive coordinator on the football field. The expectation is the quarterback is setting that standard and then bringing others with them.'”

— Matt Campbell, Penn State head coach

What’s next

Becht is expected to gradually increase his participation in team drills as he continues to recondition his throwing arm. The coaching staff will monitor his progress closely to ensure he is fully healthy before allowing him to take on a larger role.

The takeaway

Penn State is taking a cautious approach with Becht's recovery, prioritizing his long-term health and ability to lead the offense over rushing him back. The Nittany Lions have depth at quarterback with Manske and Barry, allowing them to bring Becht along slowly. This measured approach highlights the importance of player safety, especially for a key position like quarterback.