Penn State sophomore OL Cooper Cousins announces return

With the end of the Penn State football season, changes are in the works for the roster moving into 2026. Multiple players have already announced that they are entering the transfer portal. However, for offensive lineman Cooper Cousins, a change of scenery is not in the cards. On Monday, Cousins announced he will return to Penn State for his junior season.

Ready to get back to work!

I BLEED BLUE AND WHITE💙🤍💙🤍 pic.twitter.com/gAU4fFcfXj— Cooper Cousins (@cousins_cooper) December 29, 2025

Cousins has been a leader since his recruiting days, helping bring in other future Nittany Lions in his recruiting class. Since joining the blue and white, Cousins has been a leader despite not seeing the field too much.

The offensive lineman has received high praise from all over and could potentially be the future anchor of the offensive line.

Cousins finished off his high school career as a four-star recruit, ranked as the No. 57 overall player in the Class of 2024. He was the top-ranked interior offensive lineman and top-ranked recruit in Pennsylvania, according to 247Sports composite.

The Nittany Lion was a key aspect to Penn State's success in the run game against Clemson in the team's victory over the Tigers in the Pinstripe Bowl.

Cousins filled in at offensive line when injuries occurred, and was a key player on special teams in protecting the punter.

Cousins likely slots in at one of the guard positions, despite entering Penn State as a center. The future of the center position is also up in the air, so the spot could go to the former four-star recruit.

This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State sophomore OL Cooper Cousins announces return in 2026