Not to beat a dead horse, but college football is undergoing an immeasurable identity shift, starting with its players and their values.

NIL money creates a tough decision for young, impressionable minds. Pursue financial independence or commit to the program that truly fits best? The discourse surrounding all that’s “wrong” with college football in 2026 can be endless, but lucky for Penn State, head coach Matt Campbell, and all of his players, those conversations don’t even enter the room.

“At Penn State, we choose a culture to do what is hard rather than what is easy, and we want people who want something more than just winning football games,” Campbell said Tuesday during his media appearance at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago. “Really, over the last six months, what we have worked really hard to do is make sure we have the right people. The right people with the right values.”

Who was the very first “right person” to cement his unwavering loyalty to Campbell? That would be none other than offensive lineman Anthony Donkoh.

The redshirt junior was the first returner to announce his return to Penn State, an action that Campbell highlighted during his 14 and a half minute media appearance on Tuesday.

“Anthony is a young man whose work ethic, his character, has truly led us, both on and off the football field,” Campbell said.

Donkoh was one of three Nittany Lions to be chosen to represent the program at Big Ten Football’s Media Days in Chicago. He’s notched 21 starts over his first three seasons with the Nittany Lions across four positions and is expected to secure a starting tackle spot in 2026.

“I want to be a resource for the younger guys in the offensive line room, specifically,” Donkoh said. “I have a lot of experience playing in big games, I’ve played every position except center, and I have the wisdom. I want to be a resource for them to help with whatever they need.”

That sort of team-first mindset is exactly what Campbell has preached since arriving at Penn State. Whether it be a potential recruit, a position coach, or the starting quarterback, being a leader of men is the most important thing for this program’s players.

But just as the sun’s rays spread to planets much beyond Earth, the Planetary Science and Astronomy major’s leadership isn’t limited to the offensive line room. Donkoh says he’s gone out of his way to eat meals and work out with all of his teammates in an effort to mesh a mixed roster of returners and transfers.

“They’re coming in, we’re staying here, but at the end of the day we’re all getting to know each other again. We have the same common factor, and we’ve been able to grow with each other pretty fast,” Donkoh said.

That integration was essential for Penn State to achieve before the fall, but Donkoh says it happened before winter workouts, which is a testament to the actions of Penn State’s players, rather than words.

“[It’s] a locker room of young men that stayed at Penn State, and a locker room of young men that came to Penn State for a devoted cause,” Campbell said.

Campbell added that he’s focused on assembling a team that has great standards and expectations for themselves, understands that nothing is guaranteed, and understands that this is bigger than us.

While schools continue to throw six-figure NIL deals at players to entice them to join their program, Campbell and Penn State have built a brotherhood that sits on a foundation of doing the little things, even if they require additional effort.

There is an ideological alignment coursing through the veins of this program. From players to the head coach, expectations are clear, and it seems that everyone has bought in, starting with a 6’5″, 330-pound kid from Aldie, Virginia.