Iowa Native Alex Manske Cleared for Penn State Camp After Health Scare

Iowa football fans have a reason to cheer for one of their own. Former Algona High School star Alex Manske, now a quarterback at Penn State, has been medically cleared to participate in training camp after missing spring drills due to a medical condition. The news came Tuesday at Big Ten Football Media Days from Penn State coach Matt Campbell, who called Manske's return a 'monumental win.'

Manske, a redshirt freshman, followed Campbell and fellow quarterback Rocco Becht from Iowa State to Penn State this offseason. He is a former 4-star recruit out of Algona, where he ranked as the second-best player in Iowa and the 25th-best quarterback nationally in the 2025 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports Composite.

What kept Manske out of spring practice?

Campbell said Manske was dealing with a 'medical condition' earlier this year that sidelined him for spring drills. The coach provided a timeline for his recovery.

'I think where we won tremendously was Alex really got cleared right around the first of June,' Campbell said. 'There was a process back, and by July 1, he was actually fully cleared for football. He's been throwing. He's had the opportunity to go through the majority of our summer program, and he will be ready to go and fully cleared as we start fall camp. So I think that is a monumental win because Alex certainly — we believe in what his talent level is.'

The medical condition is separate from the elbow injury Manske suffered during his senior year at Algona High School. That injury, a torn ulnar collateral ligament that Campbell called 'the Brock Purdy injury,' forced Manske to miss spring ball and summer activities during his freshman season at Iowa State.

Manske's injury history and recovery

Manske's football journey has been marked by setbacks. After a standout junior and senior year at Algona, his senior season was cut short just before the playoffs due to the elbow injury. He missed spring ball his freshman year at Iowa State but returned to play in three games, completing four of five passes.

'It was one of those tough moments just because you know what Alex has been through a little bit,' Campbell said. 'He had this incredible senior year and incredible junior year at his high school. His senior year got cut short right before the playoffs because of the Brock Purdy injury to his elbow, so he missed spring ball his freshman year at Iowa State. He got cleared right as we were heading into fall camp, and really had a tremendous fall camp a year ago there, but missed spring, missed the summer.'

What does Manske bring to Penn State?

Penn State quarterbacks coach Jake Waters praised Manske's raw talent and toughness.

'He just needs to get more reps and go because he's got all the talent that you want,' Waters said earlier this year. 'He's tough. He can run. He's not scared of contact. We used him in a little quarterback run at Iowa State, things like that last year, but he's a guy that has all the tools that he just needs to keep working overall on how to be a college quarterback.'

Without Manske this spring, Penn State gave Division III transfer Connor Barry most of the second-team reps. Barry earned praise from Campbell and Waters, but Manske is viewed as the program's quarterback of the future.

'The development piece, when you talk about the first year-and-a-half of his career, has been a little bit choppy,' Campbell said. 'And so to be able to have him this summer, to have all of fall camp and as we get into this football season to continue to grow and develop his skill set, I think that's huge for us as evaluating Alex. But also for Alex's confidence to grow forward so he can be the quarterback of the future of our program.'

Iowa connections run deep

Manske is one of several Iowa natives who followed Campbell from Iowa State to Penn State. The move has strengthened ties between the two programs and given Iowa football fans a reason to follow the Nittany Lions. Manske's return to health is a positive sign for a player who has overcome significant adversity to pursue his college football dreams.

As training camp approaches, all eyes will be on Manske as he competes for playing time and continues his development. For Iowa fans, his journey is a story of resilience and determination.