UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State redshirt senior quarterback Rocco Becht was named to the Davey O’Brien Award watch list, while redshirt senior defensive tackle Siale Taupaki was placed on the Polynesian College Player of the Year watch list and redshirt senior safety Jeremiah Cooper, redshirt sophomore Max Granville and redshirt junior linebacker Tony Rojas were named to the Comeback Player of the Year award watch list on Thursday.
The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback and is the oldest national quarterback award.
The Polynesian College Player of the Year Award honors the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry who exemplifies exceptional ability.
Since 2018, the Comeback Player of the Year Award has recognized college football student-athletes for overcoming injury, illness or other circumstances.
Rocco Becht · R-Sr. · QB · 6-1 · 210 · Wesley Chapel, Fla. · Wiregrass Ranch · Iowa State
- Also on the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and Maxwell Award watch lists.
- Was named to the Manning Award, Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and Wuerffel Trophy watch lists in 2025.
- Named an Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominee.
- Selected All-Big 12 honorable mention in 2024 and was Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2023.
- Earned second-team Freshman All-American honors from The Athletic.
- Named CSC Academic All-District in 2023 and 2024.
- Started 39 games and earned 26 wins at Iowa State, while leading seven game-winning drives.
- Ranks Top 10 all-time at Iowa State in consecutive games with a passing touchdown (22; 1st), passing touchdowns (64; 2nd), 300+ yard passing games (6; 2nd), completions (714; 3rd), passing attempts (1,177; 3rd), passing yards (9,274; 3rd), passing efficiency (140.2; 3rd), completion percentage (60.6; 4th), rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (19; t-1st), touchdowns responsible for (83; 2nd) and total offense (9,773; 3rd).
- Ended the 2025 season as one of nine FBS quarterbacks with 9,200+ career passing yards and 64+ career passing touchdowns and one of six FBS quarterbacks with 64+ career passing touchdowns and 19+ career rushing touchdowns.
- In 2025, completed 205-of-339 passes for 2,584 passing yards, 16 passing touchdowns, 116 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.
Jeremiah Cooper · R-Sr. · S · 6-0 · 188 · El Paso, Texas · Andress · Iowa State
- Tabbed Phil Steele fourth-team Preseason All-American in 2025.
- Named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Jim Thorpe Award watch lists in 2025.
- Voted All-Big 12 honorable mention in 2024.
- Selected All-Big 12 first team in 2023 and Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2022.
- Played in 38 games and made 36 starts at Iowa State.
- Has collected 134 tackles (82 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, eight interceptions (one touchdown) and 14 pass breakups.
- In 2025, started four games before a season-ending injury. Recorded nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one interception and three pass breakups.
- Allowed a 33.3 completion percentage when targeted.
- In 2024, made 45 tackles (27 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, five interceptions (one touchdown) and 10 pass breakups.
- Tied for sixth in the FBS with five interceptions and 32nd with 10 pass breakups.
Max Granville · R-So. · DE · 6-3 · 252 · Sugar Land, Texas · Fort Bend Christian Academy
- Appeared in seven games as a freshman.
- Made a solo tackle against Maryland (11/30).
- Broke up a pass and had a quarterback hit against Kent State (9/21).
- Ranked as the No. 18 prospect in Texas by ESPN in the 2023 class.
- Recorded 12 sacks in 2023 and 20.5 sacks in 2022.
Tony Rojas · R-Jr. · LB · 6-2 · 236 · Fairfax, Va. · Fairfax
- On the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List.
- Has played in 33 games and made 20 starts at Penn State.
- Started four games in 2025 before a season-ending injury.
- Has collected 105 tackles (56 solo), 14 tackles for loss, three sacks, one forced fumble, four interceptions (one touchdown) and one pass breakup in his career.
- Tallied 25 tackles (13 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and one pass breakup in 2025.
- Recorded two tackles for loss against Nevada (8/30).
- Posted a career-high 10 tackles (6 solo) against FIU (9/6).
- Collected five tackles and a career-high two sacks against Villanova (9/13).
- In 2024, started 16 games and made 58 stops (35 solo), six tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions (one touchdown) and four pass breakups.
Siale Taupaki · R-Sr.+ · DL · 6-4 · 310 · East Oakland, Calif. · Oakland HS · UCLA
- Has played in 40 career games and made eight starts.
- Has collected 38 tackles (22 solo), three tackles for loss, two sacks and one fumble recovery in his career.
- In 2025, made 15 tackles (8 solo), two tackles for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery.
- Recorded three tackles (one solo) against New Mexico (9/12).
- Made a solo tackle for loss and recovered a fumble at Michigan State (10/11).
- Tallied a solo sack for 13 yards at USC (11/29).
The Davey O’Brien Midseason Watch List will be released on November 3 and the Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2026 will be announced on November 10. Semifinalists will be named on November 17 and the winner will be announced live on the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards on December 11.
Finalists for the 2026 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be unveiled on December 8 and the winner will be announced on December 15. The presentation of the award will be held during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner on January 16.
At the conclusion of each season, in a vote by a panel of college football writers, editors and sports information directors, three college football student-athletes are honored as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
Nittany Lions On Award Watch Lists
Ryan Barker - Groza
Rocco Becht - Davey O’Brien, Maxwell, Unitas
Benjamin Brahmer - Lombardi, Mackey
Gabe Burkle - Mackey
Jeremiah Cooper - Comeback POY
Cooper Cousins - Wuerffel Trophy
Kooper Ebel - Butkus
Max Granville - Comeback POY
Carson Hansen - Doak Walker
James Peoples - Doak Walker
Brock Riker - Rimington Trophy
Tony Rojas - Comeback POY, Lott IMPACT Trophy
Blaise Sokach-Minnick - Mannelly
Siale Taupaki - Polynesian POY
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and ticket information for the 2026 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU, as well as club seating in West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.GoPSUsports.com, or call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.