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UNIVERSITY PARK -- The Penn State football team has five of its players on the latest preseason watch lists for the 2026 campaign.
The list includes quarterback Rocco Becht for the Davey O'Brien Award and senior defensive tackle Siale Taupaki who is up for the Polynesian College Player of the Year Award. Taupaki is a transfer from UCLA. Becht came with coach Matt Campbell from Iowa State.
The Nittany Lions have three players on the Comeback Player of the Year Award list. They are safety Jeremaigh Cooper, edge rusher Max Granville and linebacker Tony Rojas.
Cooper comes to Penn State from Iowa State while Granville and Rojas are both holdovers from last year's Penn State team.
Panther named
PITTSBURGH -- Redshirt senior wide receiver Censere Lee has been named to the 2026 Comeback Player of the Year Award preseason watch list, College Sports Communicators announced Thursday in association with The Associated Press and Fiesta Sports Foundation.
Lee is one of 94 student-athletes from 59 schools selected for the watch list, which recognizes college football players who have overcome injury, illness or other challenging circumstances.
The Clearwater, Fla., native is preparing for his third season with the Panthers after injuries curtailed each of his first two campaigns at Pitt.
Lee made an immediate impact following his transfer from Western Carolina in January 2024. He played in 10 games that season, recording 19 receptions for 254 yards and three touchdowns before sustaining a season-ending injury against Clemson.
Pitt has 2 in Top 300
PITTSBURGH -- Pitt offensive tackle Ryan Baer and linebacker Braylan Lovelace have been named to the 2027 Senior Bowl Top 300, the organization announced Thursday.
The list features 300 draft-eligible prospects from across college football. Baer and Lovelace are among 45 selections from Atlantic Coast Conference programs.
Baer enters the 2026 season as one of Pitt's most experienced players. The 6-foot-7, 330-pound offensive tackle has played in 40 career games and made 35 starts--29 at right tackle and six at left tackle. An Honorable Mention All-ACC selection each of the past two seasons, Baer was also named to the 2026 Outland Trophy preseason watch list and earned preseason All-ACC recognition from Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
Lovelace, Pitt's most experienced returning linebacker, started all 13 games in 2025 and earned Honorable Mention All-ACC honors. He compiled 80 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, two pass breakups and one sack last season.