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Projecting Penn State Football’s 2025 Depth Chart: Offseason Edition

It has been a hectic few weeks since Penn State football lost to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl.

Players have been transferring to and from Happy Valley, some have announced their intentions to stay put, and others are taking the next step in their football careers. Former defensive coordinator Tom Allen even unexpectedly left four days after the College Football Playoff semifinal, and the Nittany Lions have yet to find a replacement.

Now that the transfer portal has calmed down and most draft-eligible players have announced their plans for 2025, it’s time to prepare for next season. The transfer portal reopens at the end of spring practice, so this could be outdated after that, but for now, here’s an in-depth look at what the 2025 Penn State Nittany Lions could look like.

Quarterbacks

  • Starter: Drew Allar
  • Backup: Ethan Grunkemeyer
  • Reserves: Jaxon Smolik, Bekkem Kritza, Jack Lambert

Penn State retaining Drew Allar might be the biggest move by a single player this offseason. Allar is entering his fourth season with the Nittany Lions, his third as the starter, and his second under offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki.

Allar garnered NFL Draft conversations towards the end of the 2024 season but decided to use his final year of eligibility. He is coming off arguably his best season yet where he passed for 3,327 yards, 24 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and completed 66.5% of his passes in 16 games. Allar also rushed for 302 yards and six touchdowns on 96 carries.

Former backup quarterback Beau Pribula is no longer with the program and transferred to Missouri, hoping to become its starter in 2025. This means redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer will likely slide into the No. 2 spot. The former four-star appeared once this past season where he attempted two passes for 9 yards and an interception off a deflection.

Jaxon Smolik, Bekkem Kritza, and Jack Lambert make up the rest of the quarterback room. Smolik will enter his third season with the program, but a long-term injury he suffered last spring kept him inactive for most of his redshirt freshman season. Kritza enters the program as a three-star recruit and Lambert has yet to take a snap heading into his third season with the team.

Running Backs

  • Starters: Kaytron Allen, Nick Singleton
  • Reserves: Cam Wallace, Corey Smith, Quinton Martin Jr., Amiel Davis, Tyler Holzworth, Jabree Wallace-Coleman, Tiqwai Hayes

Retaining Allar was big, but retaining Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton was huge for the Nittany Lions. The elite backfield duo became the first rushing pair to each rush for 1,000 yards in a season in program history last season. They also combined for 20 touchdowns, and Singleton was the team’s fourth-leading receiver with 375 yards and five scores.

Cam Wallace will return for his redshirt sophomore season after an injury against Kent State sidelined him for the rest of the season. True freshmen Corey Smith and Quinton Martin Jr. stepped in for Wallace, and Smith was the more impressive of the two. The former four-star had 22 carries for 152 yards in four games while Martin had 13 carries for 32 yards in the same number of games.

Amiel Davis and Tyler Holzworth will return for their redshirt senior seasons, and four-star Jabree Wallace-Coleman and three-star Tiqwai Hayes fill up the rest of the room.

Wide Receivers

  • Starters: Devonte Ross, Kyron Hudson, Tyseer Denmark
  • Reserves: Kaden Saunders, Liam Clifford, Peter Gonzalez, Anthony Ivey, Josiah Brown, Logan Cunningham, Ethan Black, Aaron Enterline, Donte Nastasi, Lyrick Samuel, Koby Howard, Matt Outten

Wide receiver was the position that saw the most change since Penn State last played. Trey Wallace, the team’s leading wide receiver, transferred to Ole Miss on Sunday, Omari Evans is in the transfer portal and will likely make a decision soon, and Julian Fleming is out of eligibility. Reserves like Tyler Johnson transferred to East Carolina, and Mehki Flowers, who played both wideout and safety, is in the transfer portal with Feyisayo Oluleye.

Penn State might not have hit a home run with its transfer pickups, but Kyron Hudson from USC and Devonte Ross from Troy are two solid options. Hudson spent four seasons with the Trojans, totaling 70 catches for 803 yards and eight touchdowns. His best season statistically was 2024 when he had a career-high 38 catches for 462 yards and three touchdowns.

In three seasons at Troy, Ross recorded 129 receptions for 1,618 yards and 14 touchdowns. Like Hudson, Ross had his best season in 2024. He had 1,043 yards and 11 touchdowns on 76 catches in 12 games.

It’s not a guarantee Ross and Hudson start, but they’re better options than what are currently available. The No. 3 receiver spot is also flexible, and Tyseer Denmark has a solid chance to fill the hole.

As a true freshman, Denmark received praise from James Franklin in August for his development. However, he didn’t have many opportunities to show off his talents with two catches for 28 yards and a touchdown in three games last season.

Some other options include Kaden Saunders, Liam Clifford, and Anthony Ivey, who all have more experience than Denmark but lacked significant production during their time at Penn State. Clifford will be a redshirt senior with 39 catches for 505 yards and one touchdown in 40 games. Saunders missed most of his redshirt sophomore season with an injury and has eight catches for 77 yards and one touchdown in 19 games, and Ivey will be a redshirt junior with just one catch for 15 yards in 12 games.

Peter Gonzales, Josiah Brown, and Aaron Enterline will all be redshirt freshmen, and four-stars Koby Howard, Lyrick Samuel, Jeff Exinor Jr., and Matt Outten will join Marques Hagans’s group next season.

Tight Ends

  • Starter: Luke Reynolds
  • Backup: Andrew Rappleyea
  • Reserves: Khalil Dinkins, Joey Schlaffer, Finn Furmanek, Andrew Olesh, Matt Henderson, Brian Kortovich

Tight end will be the toughest position to replace its former starter for Penn State. Mackey Award-winning tight end Tyler Warren had a historic season in 2024 when he was the team’s leading receiver with 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns on 104 catches.

Former five-star Luke Reynolds and Andrew Rappleyea will likely be the top two aces. Reynolds had nine catches for 111 yards and one touchdown as a true freshman, and Rappleyea didn’t record any stats last season due to a season-ending injury he suffered before Bowling Green in week two.

Khalil Dinkins is another viable option as a redshirt senior in 2025. In four seasons and 36 games with the Nittany Lions, Dinkins has 23 catches for 232 yards and five touchdowns. Last season, he had 14 catches for 122 yards and two scores.

Joey Schlaffer and Finn Furmanek are both back for their redshirt sophomore seasons while Jerry Cross transferred to Memphis. Ty Howle’s room will add the Nittany Lions’ top high school recruit in four-star Andrew Olesh, along with four-star Matt Henderson, and three-star Brian Kortovich.

Offensive Line

  • Starters: Drew Shelton, Vega Ioane, Nick Dawkins, Cooper Cousins, Anthony Donkoh
  • Reserves: JB Nelson, Nolan Rucci, TJ Shanahan Jr., Dominic Rulli, Ian Harvie, Chimdy Onoh, Donnie Harbour, Alex Birchmeier, Eagan Boyer, Jim Fitzgerald, Henry Boehme, Garrett Sexton, Caleb Brewer, J’ven Williams, Matt Detisch, Liam Horan, Malachi Goodman, Owen Aliciene, Michael Troutman III, Brady O’Hara

As it stands, the offensive line will return four starters next season, losing just Sal Wormley to the NFL Draft. The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft was January 15, and although Drew Shelton and Vega Ioane are both draft-eligible, they have not announced their decision to declare and are likely returning. Nick Dawkins announced he will be back for his sixth season, and Anthony Donkoh will return as a redshirt sophomore after suffering a season-ending injury against Minnesota.

The offensive line will also have plenty of depth next season, leaving several options to fill Wormley’s former position. JB Nelson is the most experienced reserve, entering his sixth season of college football, followed by Texas A&M transfer TJ Shanahan Jr. and upcoming sophomore Cooper Cousins. Like Denmark, Cousins also received praise from Franklin in fall camp.

The 6’6″, 316-pounder played in 10 games last season and was named to the Maxwell Football Club Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year watchlist. Nelson played all 16 games last season and has appeared in 38 games at Penn State, making eight starts. Shanahan appeared in 13 games and made five starts in his two seasons with the Aggies.

As for the rest of the room, Donnie Harbour, Eagan Boyer, Garrett Sexton, Caleb Brewer, and Liam Horan all return for their second seasons. Phil Trautwein also added four-stars Malachi Goodman and Owen Aliciene, and three-stars Michael Troutman III and Brady O’Hara.

Defensive Line

  • Starters: Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zane Durant, Kaleb Artis, Smith Vilbert
  • Reserves: Enai White, Zuriah Fisher, Owen Wafle, Alonzo Ford Jr., Mason Robinson, Jaylen Harvey, Max Granville, Ty Blanding, Xavier Gilliam, Joseph Mupoyi, Sam Siafa, Liam Andrews, De’Andre Cook, Mylachi Williams, Bobby Mears, Jordan Mayer, Aidan Probst, Chaz Coleman, Yvan Kemajou, Cortez Harris, Randy Adirika

Star defensive linemen Zane Durant and Dani Dennis-Sutton will return for next season as Abdul Carter, Dvon J-Thomas, and Coziah Izzard will enter the NFL Draft, leaving major positions to be filled. Smith Vilbert is the most experienced player on this roster as he enters a unique seventh season. There are a lot of young defensive ends on the roster and having Vilbert, who has played 35 games and started one, is a solid starting option.

The second defensive tackle spot is wide open. Kaleb Artis has a good shot as a redshirt junior who has played 26 games, but he has only seven career tackles and 1.5 for a loss. Alonzo Ford Jr. has a chance if healthy. The redshirt senior also suffered a long-term injury against Minnesota this past season but has not announced his decision to stay or declare for the draft.

Zuriah Fisher also hasn’t announced a decision on his future, but he has a chance to see the field at the defensive end next season. Fisher also suffered a season-ending injury in 2024 but has played 24 games entering his sixth season.

Texas A&M transfer Enai White is entering his senior year after recording 11 tackles, three for a loss, and two sacks as an Aggie. White was also a four-star and the No. 2 player from Pennsylvania in the recruiting class of 2022 behind only Singleton. Max Granville should also have an increased role next year as he played as Carter’s backup in the Fiesta Bowl against Boise State.

The defensive line also added Michigan transfer Owen Wafle, four-stars Chaz Coleman, Yvan Kemajou, Cortez Harris, and three-star Randy Adirika, and lost freshman T.A. Cunningham to the transfer portal.

Linebackers

  • Starters: Tony Rojas, Keon Wylie, Dom DeLuca
  • Reserves: Anthony Speca, Ta’Mere Robinson, Kari Jackson, Dakaari Nelson, Beckham Dee, Winston Yates, Jackson Pryst, Ben Chizmar, Alex Tatsch, Cam Smith, LaVar Arrington II, Dayshaun Burnett

Two of the three starting linebackers will return next season, Dom DeLuca will forgo the draft and return for his redshirt senior season, and Tony Rojas will return as a junior. The leader and the “quarterback” of the defense Kobe King declared for the draft, leaving big shoes to fill at middle linebacker.

Linebacker is another position with depth and inexperience. Keon Wylie will be a redshirt junior and has posted 19 tackles, 5.5 for a loss, and 3.5 sacks in 16 games, but he also suffered a season-ending injury in 2024.

Ta’Mere Robinson and Dakaari Nelson also have some in-game experience and are possible options. However, Nelson switched from safety to linebacker this past season and is more likely to play as the weak-side linebacker rather than in the middle.

The Nittany Lions added four-stars Alex Tatsch, Cam Smith, LaVar Arrington II, and Dayshaun Burnett.

Secondary

  • Starters: A.J. Harris, Zakee Wheatley, Dejuan Lane, Elliot Washington II
  • Reserves: Zion Tracy, King Mack, Vaboue Toure, Audavion Collins, Lamont Payne Jr., Kolin Dinkins, Jon Mitchell, Antoine Belgrave-Shorter, Kenny Woseley Jr., Karson Kiesewetter, Jashaun Green, Tyler Armstead, Daryus Dixson, Jahmir Joseph, Xxavier Thomas, Braz Thomas, Joshua Johnson

A.J. Harris will return for his junior season and Zakee Wheatley will return for his redshirt senior season. KJ Winston, Jaylen Reed, and Jalen Kimber will head to the NFL draft, while Cam Miller has transferred to Rutgers, and Tyrece Mills is still in the transfer portal.

Harris and Wheatley each had productive seasons in 2024. Harris started in 15 of 16 games and had 56 tackles, four for a loss, six pass breakups, and an interception while Wheatley started all 16 games and had 96 tackles, 2.5 for a loss, seven pass breakups, three picks, one sack, and one forced fumble.

Elliot Washington II and Zion Tracy are primed for bigger roles in 2025. Washington played 14 games as a sophomore and had 26 tackles, seven pass breakups, and an interception. Tracy played in 16 games, started four, and had 35 tackles, three pass breakups, two interceptions, one touchdown, and one sack.

Dejuan Lane or King Mack will likely fill the other safety position. Lane played in every game as a true freshman, tallying 16 tackles, four pass breakups, and one interception. Mack also played in every game as a true freshman at Penn State and racked up 14 tackles, but he transferred to Alabama for his sophomore season and posted just three tackles in 13 games before transferring back to Happy Valley.

Lane probably gets the edge over Mack as the starter. After just two months with the program, Franklin announced that Lane would burn his redshirt and when Winston suffered his season-ending knee injury, Lane’s role increased. A full offseason will only help the young safety while Mack will make for a solid reserve.

The secondary will have Audavion Collins returning, who played in all 16 games last season, and freshmen Jon Mitchell, Kenny Woseley Jr., Antoine Belgrave-Shorter, and Tyler Armstead. The room also added four-stars Daryus Dixson and Jahmir Joseph, and three-stars Xxavier Thomas, Braz Thomas, and Joshua Johnson.

Special Teams

  • Starters: Ryan Barker, Riley Thompson, Gabe Nwosu, Tyler Duzansky
  • Reserves: Sander Sahaydak, Chase Meyer, Mitchell Groh, Andrew Dufault, Blaise Sokach-Minnick

All four starting special teamers return for Penn State in 2025. Ryan Barker will be back for his redshirt sophomore season after hitting 15-of-18 field goal attempts and 48-of-49 extra point attempts last season. Riley Thompson will return for his final year of eligibility after punting 51 times for an average of 42.8 yards and 33.3% landing inside the 20-yard line in 2024.

The touchback machine Gabe Nwosu is back for his final year along with long snapper Tyler Duzansky. The special teams also have experienced reserves like Sander Sahaydak and Chase Meyer, who have kicked in 18 and 20 games, respectively, across their careers. Singleton is back at kick returner and Tracy and Saunders have also played punt returner extensively.

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About the Author

Mitch Corcoran

Mitch is a senior broadcast journalism major from Johnstown, PA. He is a big Pittsburgh sports fan and in his free time he likes to listen to music, play video games, and rewatch old football games. He also loves Seinfeld, Star Wars, bucket hats, Chili's, and Dua Lipa. If you want Justin Herbert propaganda or random sports content, follow him on Twitter/X @MitchCorc18 or email [email protected]

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