Pencils down, folks.

On Friday, the sole 2026 transfer portal window officially closed after two chaotic weeks. Across the FBS, over 3,000 players entered their names into the portal with only 36 officially withdrawing, as of Sunday night. Interestingly, well over 1,000 still haven’t found a new home, despite the spring semester starting.

Of those 3,000+, 50 of them came from Penn State, which suffered one of the largest portal exoduses in the wake of the firing of James Franklin as head coach in October. Twelve players have so far followed him to Virginia Tech, but the rest are scattered across college football.

Penn State has also added 39 players through the transfer portal, many following Matt Campbell from Iowa State. Unlike the exodus, this number isn’t final, as players did not have to officially enroll at a school before the transfer portal window closed. That is only for entering the portal.

The other variables at play are enrolling freshmen and graduating seniors. Penn State will be saying goodbye to another 25 players who are either graduating, heading to the NFL, or retiring from football. Meanwhile, despite only signing two on National Signing Day in December, they’ll welcome 16 incoming freshmen.

So, where does the roster stack up as the Nittany Lions prepare for spring practice? We’ll break down who’s staying, who’s arriving, and who’s departing the program as the preparation for 2026 begins.

Overall Breakdown

Staying: 52 (39 scholarship)

Arriving: 55 (39 transfers, 16 incoming freshmen, 52 total on scholarship)

Leaving: 76 (50 transferring, 24 graduating/NFL/retiring)

Total Rostered: 107 (87 scholarship)

There may still be some augmenting to the roster with 16 open scholarships. The NCAA is establishing a firm, 105-player roster limit, but all 105 players can be on scholarship. The previous rules had a limit of 85 scholarships with no roster limit.

Quarterback

Staying: Jack Lambert (walk-on)

Arriving: Rocco Becht (Iowa State), Alex Manske (Iowa State), Peyton Falzone (recruit), Kase Evans (recruit)

Leaving: Drew Allar (graduating), Ethan Grunkemeyer (transferred to Virginia Tech), Jaxon Smolik (Temple), Bekkem Kritza (transferring, TBD)

It’s a whole new room in Happy Valley. The only holdovers look to be walk-on redshirt junior Jack Lambert and assistant quarterbacks coach Trace McSorley. Becht figures to be the answer at quarterback in 2026 as the first-ever transfer signal caller in program history, while redshirt freshman transfer Alex Manske could be the early favorite to back him up.

Running Back

Staying: Quinton Martin Jr., Cam Wallace (withdrew from transfer portal)

Arriving: Carson Hansen (Iowa State), James Peoples (Ohio State), D’Antae Sheffey (recruit)

Leaving: Nick Singleton (graduating), Kaytron Allen (graduating), Amiel Davis (graduating), Tyler Holzworth (graduating), Jabree Coleman-Wallace (transferred to South Carolina), Corey Smith (Toledo), Tikey Hayes (transferring, TBD)

In the last four seasons, Singleton and Allen have combined for 1,391 carries. Every other Penn State running back in that time has combined for just 194 carries. The Nittany Lions will be returning under seven percent of their rushing production in 2026, but will bring in Iowa State’s leading rusher and a former four-star recruit from Ohio State to form a three-headed monster in the backfield with Martin Jr.

Wide Receiver

Staying: Koby Howard, Peter Gonzalez, Lyrick Samuel, Ethan Black (walk-on), Logan Cunningham (walk-on)

Arriving: Karon Brookins (Iowa State), Brett Eskildsen (Iowa State), Zay Robinson (Iowa State), Keith Jones Jr. (Grambling State), Chase Sowell (Iowa State), Ben Whitver (recruit), Amarion Jackson (recruit), Deymein Doctor (recruit, walk-on), Henry Lustig (recruit, walk-on)

Leaving: Liam Clifford (graduating), Kyron Hudson (graduating), Trebor Peña (graduating), Devonte Ross (graduating), Aaron Enterline (transferred to Towson), Jeff Exinor Jr. (Virginia Tech), Tyseer Denmark (Virginia Tech), Matthew Outten (Syracuse), Kaden Saunders (Southern Miss), Anthony Ivey (San Jose State), Josiah Brown (transferring, TBD)

Penn State will be losing its three top receivers from 2025, but return a highly promising freshman in Howard. With nine new faces, it’ll be interesting to see the pecking order when September rolls around, as Campbell brought in Iowa State’s top two receivers and dipped into the FCS to grab Jones from Grambling State.

Tight End

Staying: Andrew Rappleyea, Finn Furmanek, Brian Kortovich

Arriving: Benjamin Brahmer (Iowa State), Gabe Burkle (Iowa State), Cooper Alexander (Iowa State)

Leaving: Khalil Dinkins (graduated), Luke Reynolds (transferred to Virginia Tech), Joey Schlaffer (Temple), Matt Henderson (Virginia Tech), Andrew Olesh (Oregon)

Rappleyea took over as the team’s lead tight end towards the end of the season after missing 2024 with an injury and will be paired with top transfer tight end Benjamin Brahmer, who’s heading from Iowa State. Penn State did lose considerable depth, including two former elite recruits in Reynolds and Olesh.

Offensive Line

Staying: Cooper Cousins, Owen Aliciene, Anthony Donkoh, Chimdy Onoh, Caleb Brewer, Dominic Rulli, Malachi Goodman, Garrett Sexton, Donnie Harbour, Liam Horan (walk-on), Henry Boehme (walk-on), Jim Fitzgerald (walk-on)

Arriving: Will Tompkins (Iowa State), Kuol Kuol II (Iowa State), Vaea Ikakoula (Iowa State), Trevor Buhr (Iowa State), Brock Riker (Texas State), Tyson Huff (D-II Tiffin), Hunter Albright (Saint Francis, walk-on), Mason Bandhauer (recruit), Pete Eglitis (recruit)

Leaving: Vega Ioane (NFL), Drew Shelton (graduating), Nick Dawkins (graduating), Nolan Rucci (graduating), Mason Carlan (graduating), Matt Detisch (retiring), Ian Harvie (retiring), Alex Birchmeier (transferred to Liberty), J’ven Williams (Charlotte), TJ Shanahan Jr. (Florida), Eagan Boyer (Florida), Michael Troutman III (Virginia Tech), Brady O’Hara (transferring, TBD)

Despite position coach Phil Trautwein moving on to Florida, Penn State did a good job at retention on the offensive line. They’re in an unenviable position, having to replace four starters, including All-American Vega Ioane, but retained key pieces like Donkoh, Cousins, and former five-star Goodman, while bringing in starters from Iowa State and one of the nation’s best pass-blocking centers in Riker.

Defensive Tackle

Staying: De’Andre Cook, Liam Andrews, Ty Blanding

Arriving: Alijah Carnell (Iowa State), Keanu Williams (UCLA), Siale Taupaki (UCLA), Dallas Vakalahi (Utah)

Leaving: Zane Durant (graduating), Alonzo Ford Jr. (graduating), Xavier Gilliam (transferred to Tennessee), Owen Wafle (Duke), Kaleb Artis (Temple), Randy Adirika (Virginia Tech), Enai White (transferring, TBD), Sam Siafa (transferring, TBD)

There are going to be big changes on the interior defensive line, not only in roster turnover, but also in philosophy. Penn State is saying goodbye to Deion Barnes as defensive line coach and its top three defensive tackles, but they’ll be ushering in a new system that has brought several 330-pound run stuffers to Happy Valley. In the last few seasons, Penn State’s starting defensive tackles were closer to 300 pounds.

Defensive End

Staying: Max Granville, Yvan Kemajou, Mason Robinson, Dayshaun Burnett, Jordan Mayer, Aidan Probst (walk-on), Bobby Mears (walk-on)

Arriving: Armstrong Nnodim (Oklahoma State), Ikenna Ezeogu (Iowa State), Alexander McPherson (Colorado), Jackson Ford (recruit)

Leaving: Dani Dennis-Sutton (graduating), Zuriah Fisher (transferred to USC), Chaz Coleman (Tennessee), Jaylen Harvey (North Carolina), Daniel Jennings (Virginia Tech), Cortez Harris (Virginia Tech), Mylachi Williams (Virginia Tech)

Penn State is losing some experience and youthful flash here, but was able to retain Granville and Kemajo, who many around the program are high on, and grab some promising players in the transfer portal, including an intriguing sophomore in McPherson.

Linebacker

Staying: Tony Rojas, Alex Tatsch, Cam Smith, LaVar Arrington II, Jackson Pryts (walk-on)

Arriving: Caleb Bacon (Iowa State), Cael Brezina (Iowa State), Kooper Ebel (Iowa State), Chris Fileppo (West Virginia), John Klosterman (Iowa State, walk-on), Keian Kaiser (recruit)

Leaving: Dominic DeLuca (graduating), Amare Campbell (transferred to Tennessee), Keon Wylie (Virginia Tech), Anthony Speca (Purdue), DaKaari Nelson (NC State), Kari Jackson (Toledo)

DeLuca and Campbell were year-long staples in the Penn State defense in 2025, but being able to retain Rojas was a big win for Campbell in terms of roster retention. He was also able to keep promising rising sophomores Tatsch and Arrington II in the building. Four linebackers are en route from Iowa State, as well as a converted safety in Fileppo from Morgantown.

Cornerback

Staying: Daryus Dixson, Jahmir Joseph, Zion Tracy, Audavion Collins, Xxavier Thomas, Joshua Johnson, Tyler Armstead (walk-on), Max Heffner (walk-on), Dante Nastasi (walk-on)

Arriving: Jeremiah Cooper (Iowa State), Ibn McDaniels (Syracuse), Josiah Zayas (recruit)

Leaving: AJ Harris (transferred to Indiana), Elliot Washington II (Clemson), Kenny Woseley Jr. (Virginia Tech)

The cornerback position probably had the least turnover for Penn State. Retaining Terry Smith was certainly a factor there. Harris and Washington II had key roles in the secondary in 2025, but the Nittany Lions will return several key pieces, including rising sophomores Dixson and Joseph. Cooper missed most of 2025 with an injury, but the converted safety was an All-Big 12 First Team and honorable mention in 2023 and 2024.

Safety

Staying: Vaboue Toure, Jashaun Green (walk-on)

Arriving: Marcus Neal Jr. (Iowa State), Hunter Sowell (Iowa State), Jamison Patton (Iowa State), Omarion Davis (Boston College), Tyrell Chatman (recruit), Bryson Williams (recruit), Christian Askew (recruit)

Leaving: Zakee Wheatley (graduating), King Mack (NC State), Dejuan Lane (Tennessee), Antoine Belgrave-Shorter (Arizona State), Kolin Dinkins (Temple), Braz Thomas (transferring, TBD), Lamont Payne Jr. (transferring, TBD), Karson Kiesewetter (transferring, TBD)

Unlike the cornerback room, Penn State is replacing almost every safety, returning just one scholarship player at the position. Neal, Davis, and Patton figure to be in the mix with Toure for immediate reps, but with three incoming freshmen, it remains to be seen.

Special Teams

Staying: Ryan Barker (K), Matthew Parker (K), Blaise Sokach-Minnick (LS), Andrew Dufault (LS)

Arriving: Cristiano Rosa (K, James Madison), Nathan Tiyce (P, Mississippi State), Lucas Tenbrock (P, recruit)

Leaving: Riley Thompson (P, graduating), Gabe Nwosu (P, graduating), Tyler Duzansky (LS, graduating)

Penn State returns one of the nation’s most reliable kickers in Barker, but will have a new punter and long snapper in 2026. Rosa figures to slide in as kickoff specialist, replacing Nwosu, while Tiyce and the true freshman Tenbrock battle for the punting duties. Sokach-Minnick and Dufault will battle to replace one of the nation’s best and most consistent long snappers in Duzansky.