Former Iowa State Tight End Gabe Burkle Poised for Breakout at Penn State Under Campbell

Iowa football fans know the name Gabe Burkle, and Penn State fans are about to learn it. The former Iowa State tight end, who transferred to Penn State with coach Matt Campbell, is on track to become a star for the Nittany Lions in 2026 after recovering from a November 2025 ACL tear.

Burkle, a 6-6 redshirt senior, spent his first six months in State College rehabbing the injury. But Campbell, who brought Burkle with him from Ames, has high expectations. The coach called Burkle critically important to Penn State's offense, which will lean heavily on the tight end position this season.

I would say he is critically important to Penn State's 2026 offense and has been critically important to our success, Campbell said.

How Burkle's Iowa State Career Set Him Up for Success

Burkle first broke out in 2024 when he replaced an injured Ben Brahmer in Iowa State's lineup. He caught 26 passes over eight starts, showcasing both his blocking and receiving skills. In 2025, he matched that career-high of 26 receptions before suffering the ACL tear on Nov. 8 against TCU.

Campbell praised Burkle's unique skill set, calling him the best blocking tight end in the country during his time at Iowa State. He also noted Burkle's growth as a pass catcher.

If you really study Iowa State and you study Gabe Burkle, that guy was the best blocking tight end in the country, the best off-the-ball tight end in the country, Campbell said. I also think he became a real factor for us in the passing game. He is a guy that has got great hands. He is elite at the top of the route. He can certainly be a guy that, whether it is over the middle or vertically down the field, is a real asset.

Penn State's Tight End Room: A Cornerstone of the Offense

Campbell called tight end the best position group on Penn State's roster. Beyond Burkle, the Nittany Lions boast Brahmer, whom Campbell calls the best tight end in the country, and Andrew Rappleyea, who is healthy after missing spring drills. Redshirt sophomore Cooper Alexander, another Iowa State transfer, adds depth.

Top to bottom, that is a really special room right now, Campbell said. When you have Rap, you have Gabe and you have Ben at the top of it, and then you have Cooper Alexander as a really talented young football player that is coming in, and Finn Furmanek, that is a room that we feel really good about.

Campbell added that he would like to have even more tight ends, reflecting his offensive philosophy. We are coming from a place where we are used to having eight or nine scholarship tight ends, he said. So we will continue to build the equity of that room.

What This Means for Iowa Football Fans

For Iowa fans who followed Burkle at Iowa State, his success at Penn State is a point of pride. The transfer pipeline between Iowa State and Penn State, driven by Campbell, continues to produce talent. Burkle's return is targeted for at least Game 2 at Temple, giving him time to fully recover.

Penn State opens training camp Aug. 5 and kicks off the season Sept. 5 against Marshall at Beaver Stadium. If Burkle returns to form, he could be one of the most impactful tight ends in the Big Ten.

He is a huge piece of our success, Campbell said. When you have a tight end like that, you have the ability to extend gaps and create gaps, help in pass protection and be an outlet in the passing game. Those are huge assets. And Gabe is certainly one of those.