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For eight months, we’ve been hearing from the new Penn State football coaching staff. From new head coach Matt Campbell to his coordinators and position coaches, the media has been hard at work introducing these men to the team’s fanbase ahead of their first season in Happy Valley. Now, we’re getting the chance to introduce you to the man behind the scenes. New Penn State GM Derek Hoodjer joins the Blue White Illustrated YouTube Channel to discuss his new job.
Join reporter Nate Bauer as we sit down with Hoodjer to discuss a variety of topics, including NIL and the business of running a football team. We’ll also discuss the team’s recruiting efforts in the class of 2026, new rules affecting roster construction, and of course, the current Penn State team.
Be sure to subscribe to the Blue White Illustrated YouTube Channel and enable notifications so you don’t miss any exclusive interviews. Your home year-round for Penn State football is Blue White Illustrated!
Penn State GM Derek Hoodjer sits down with BWI
We cover a wide range of topics with Hoodjer from NIL to recruiting and roster building. Earlier this summer, Penn State secured the commitment of an under-the-radar receiver in Tennessee nativeJamir Dean. Shortly after, teams began offering the soon-to-be four-star prospect. How does Hoodjer handle evaluations while having the spotlight of Penn State football on his every move?
Yeah, I think you know the Penn State brand obviously makes it a little more difficult to find a player, evaluate them, recruit them, and I don’t think they stay under the radar very long once that occurs. But I would say that that had kind of started to happen at Iowa State as well,” he said.
Additionally, the team has found high-value players at other positions such as offensive tackle and defensive end, who were off the radar and were able to secure them in the class. Is that something baked into his team-building model?
“I think it’s a strategy that a component of your roster has to be that in order to kind of build some homegrown guys that four or five years down the road are going to be impact players. And certainly at our previous stop, that’s something that was critically important to us.”
2026 season is fast approaching
Next, we’ll hear from Penn State head coach Matt Campbell as he and his three-man contingent of players head to Chicago for Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday. Be sure to subscribe to the feed so you get Campbell’s media day press conference, along with our reactions.
Shortly after, the team convenes for training camp on August 5 and then, just a month later, the season kicks off with Marshall at Beaver Stadium.
