Summer camp is coming to Penn State football, and with that, a few players are getting new numbers. From veterans to freshmen, we compiled a list of the Nittany Lions’ freshest round of number changes.

Changes

Malick Meiga, Wide Receiver — No. 80 To No. 4

Malick Meiga wasn’t expected to make any massive jumps in 2023 but his switch to a lower number may show that James Franklin’s staff has some trust in him. After a productive season in which he was given the John Bruno Memorial Award for the team’s top contributor on special teams, Meiga will wear No. 4.

Meiga is the first offensive player to don No. 4 since Journey Brown in 2020 and the first wide receiver to do so since Shawney Kersey in 2010. His old No. 80 falls to Christian Driver.

Christian Driver, Athlete — No. 13 To No. 80

With a new position comes a new number. Driver, who was recruited to Penn State as a safety, has been trying to make the switch to wide receiver since he arrived. As No. 13 is already held by star running back Kaytron Allen, Driver needed a switch to avoid any confusion on offense. Driver will take Meiga’s old No. 80 with his move.

Amin Vanover, Defensive End — No. 56 To No. 15

As Amin Vanover prepares to take a possible leap in 2023, he does so wearing a unique number for his position. The defensive end from New Jersey will don No. 15, which is an uncommon number for any defensive player, especially defensive ends.

Vanover now shares his No. 15 with quarterback Drew Allar and is the first defensive player to wear No. 15 since Enzo Jennings in 2021. His old No. 56 will now fall to freshman defensive end Joseph Mupoyi.

Transfers

Dante Cephas, Wide Receiver — No. 3

Franklin may feel that he has his third starting wideout with Dante Cephas. The transfer from Kent State claims the No. 3 jersey previously worn by Parker Washington, now of the Jacksonville Jaguars. While Cephas didn’t join camp until after spring practice was over, he is expected to compete with Omari Evans for the No. 3 wide receiver role.

Trey Potts, Running Back — No. 23

Penn State’s newest running back, who’s entering the program after four years with Minnesota, isn’t claiming an especially notable number. Trey Potts, who swapped his No. 3 at Minnesota for No. 23 at Penn State, will fight for reps as the Nittany Lions’ third-best back as the first two spots are already claimed by Nick Singleton and Allen.

Potts shares his No. 23 with linebacker Curtis Jacobs. He’s the first offensive player to wear the number since Weston Carr in 2019 and the first running back to wear it since Mark Allen in 2014.

Audavion Collins, Cornerback — No. 29

Penn State’s youngest transfer from the 2023 offseason Audavion Collins will wear No. 29 in the 2023 season. After spending a year at Mississippi State, Collins arrives in Happy Valley will all four years of eligibility intact.

He is the only player on the roster wearing No. 29 but he claims a number that was worn just last year by safety Sebastian Constantini.

Alonzo Ford, Defensive Tackle — No. 50

Alonzo Ford, a transfer from Old Dominion, makes a safe selection by wearing No. 50 for the 2023 season. The number wasn’t worn by anyone on the roster in 2022, and Ford is the only player wearing No. 50 on the team in 2023.

Ford wore No. 5 during his time at Old Dominion and is the first defensive player at Penn State to wear No. 50 since Max Chizmar in 2021.

Addison Penn, Guard — No. 79

Addison Penn transferred to Penn State rather quietly, and he’s taking a standard number on the offensive line. The former Duke player rocked No. 52 with the Blue Devils but will switch to No. 79 ahead of the 2023 season.

The number was most recently worn by Caeden Wallace, who switched to No. 73 after the 2022 season.

Freshmen

DaKaari Nelson, Safety — No. 8

DaKaari Nelson arrives in Happy Valley with a noticeably low number. The former four-star recruit will don No. 8 at Penn State, which was last worn by Marquis Wilson last year. Wilson recently transferred to Purdue after the conclusion of the 2022 season.

King Mack, Safety — No. 9

Nelson’s number neighbor, King Mack, will suit up wearing No. 9 in 2023. Mack, who was also a four-star recruit, will wear the jersey number recently vacated by Joey Porter Jr. The No. 9 may have some significance for Mack, as its previous owner became the highest-drafted defensive back in Penn State history in April.

London Montgomery, Running Back — No. 24

Eagles and Panthers fans will love this one.

London Montgomery will take No. 24 in his first season at Penn State, which was worn for several years by NFL running back Miles Sanders. The man named after two cities will have some big shoes to fill as he joins the Nittany Lions’ backfield.

Cam Wallace, Running Back — No. 26

What were we saying about big shoes? Cam Wallace will don No. 26 in his first year as a Nittany Lion running back, which was most famously worn by Saquon Barkley during his time in Happy Valley. Hopefully for Penn State fans, Wallace will fare more like Barkley than the number’s previous owner, running back Caziah Holmes.

Ty Blanding, Defensive Tackle — No. 39

Having a defensive tackle wear No. 39 is weird enough but Ty Blanding is joining safety Jashaun Green as one of two defensive players to wear No. 39 in 2023. Unless one of these two changes their number ahead of the season, don’t expect to see much playing time from one — or both — of them. Blanding also takes the number from former Penn State linebacker Robbie Dwyer, who also shared the number with Green.

Kaveion Keys, Linebacker — No. 48

Kaveion Keys, a former North Carolina commit, will pick up No. 48 in his first season at Penn State. Keys grabs a jersey most recently worn by linebacker Cody Romano, who appeared in nine games across five seasons with the Nittany Lions.

Joseph Mupoyi, Defensive End — No. 56

Mupoyi takes a number most recently held by Vanover for two seasons. If recent history holds, Penn State’s newest No. 56 won’t exactly light up the field his freshman year.

Andrew Rappleyea, Tight End — No. 87

Andrew Rappleyea snags a standard tight-end number upon his arrival at Penn State in No. 87. The former Michigan commit wears a number last held by Kolt Pearce, who has disappeared from Penn State’s roster without a whisper.