Kooper Ebel was one of many Iowa State regulars who followed Matt Campbell to Penn State after the 2025 season.

Ebel, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound senior linebacker, produced 77 tackles last season, tying him for the ISU team lead with safety Marcus Neal Jr.

Neal is another Cyclone who is State College.

Ebel’s roommate at Iowa State was feature back Carson Hansen.

And yes, Hansen is with the Nittany Lions.

Hansen will battle Ohio State transfer James Peoples and PSU redshirt sophomore Quinton Martin Jr. (Belle Vernon) for the RB1 job now that Kaytron Allen is prepping for the 2026 NFL Draft.

If Hansen is healthy, he is going to be tough to beat out.

Dealing with the 6-2, 220-pound Hansen in practices was a big reason why Ebel was ready for anything on game days the last two seasons.

“(Hansen is) a guy that shows up every single day and you better bring it,” Ebel said during a Penn State player availability Wednesday afternoon in State College.

“When you’re at practice and you know it’s ‘good on good’, ones on ones and Carson Hansen is running the ball, I mean, a lot of times you know it’s coming but you better be ready to roll.

“You talk about getting better every day, when you’re surrounded by guys like that (Hansen), you don’t have an option.”

Ebel was one of Iowa State’s most productive defenders the last two seasons, amassing 146 tackles — 14 of them for losses.

Hansen’s last two seasons at ISU were pretty good, too.

The senior ran for a total of 1,702 yards and 19 rushing touchdowns in that time. Hansen just missed a 1,000-yard season in 2025, rumbling for 950 yards in 11 games.

“I think the O-linemen did a great job last year,” said Hansen, a Minnesota prep standout who was named second-team All-Big 12 last season.

“I think they made a lot of great holes, and I was really fortunate to run behind that line. … It all started up front.”

Hansen knows what he must work on in spring drills and later in August, too.

“Making that free defender miss, and just setting them up right,” Hansen said.

Iowa State offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser and ISU offensive line coach Ryan Clanton are now with Campbell at Penn State.

Hansen will have a new running backs coach: Savon Huggins, who spent the five previous seasons at Boston College.

Hansen said he didn’t have to think long about where he would play in 2026. He was going to follow Campbell, Mouser and Clanton.

“It was pretty quick and pretty direct because they’re just people that I trust,” Hansen said of his decision to head to Penn State.

“I got one year left and I’m just excited to be with people who I trust and really have my confidence.”

Said Hansen of Campbell: “The guy is a genuine person, genuine human being, outside of being a football coach.And just a great football coach, as well; just knows a lot about the game, the ins and outs of it.”