STATE COLLEGE — The scar runs maybe nine inches down the middle of his chest.
Penn State football quarterback Alex Manske says, truly enough, that he doesn't think about it much. Not when he's running and throwing, like he was during another steamy morning preseason practice this week.
Not when he's constantly studying film and learning from former Iowa State teammate and starting QB Rocco Becht, and his trusted head coach Matt Campbell and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser.
No matter that the uber-talented redshirt freshman underwent a startling open-heart surgery just five months ago — and appears to be fully recovered and ready for the 2026 season in a couple of weeks, stunningly enough.
His potentially life-altering defect, Manske said, was found during a Penn State-mandated echocardiogram that he and fellow newcomers to the program underwent this past winter. He said he was not aware of any symptoms from his dilated aortic root issue − where the section of the aorta that connects to the heart widens abnormally, increasing the risk of a life-threatening tear or rupture.
#state #alex
Penn State football quarterback Alex Manske says, truly enough, that he doesn't think about it much. Not when he's running and throwing, like he was during another steamy morning preseason practice this week.
Not when he's constantly studying film and learning from former Iowa State teammate and starting QB Rocco Becht, and his trusted head coach Matt Campbell and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser.
No matter that the uber-talented redshirt freshman underwent a startling open-heart surgery just five months ago — and appears to be fully recovered and ready for the 2026 season in a couple of weeks, stunningly enough.
His potentially life-altering defect, Manske said, was found during a Penn State-mandated echocardiogram that he and fellow newcomers to the program underwent this past winter. He said he was not aware of any symptoms from his dilated aortic root issue − where the section of the aorta that connects to the heart widens abnormally, increasing the risk of a life-threatening tear or rupture.
#state #alex
2 months ago
