Penn State Football 2022 offseason roster tracker

The Penn State Football roster already looks drastically different than it did just a couple of months ago, with players declaring for the NFL draft, players entering the transfer portal, and also some new faces in the program.

In the modern era of college football, it can be difficult for fans to keep tabs on all of the players leaving their team’s roster, as well as those joining it. It has been that kind of offseason for Penn State Football.

247 Sports provided a current breakdown of the roster as it currently stands as of mid-January, but this will be a roster tracker that will be updated with each and every move made in relation the Nittany Lions‘ roster this offseason.

Penn State Football players that declared for the NFL draft:

• Jahan Dotson (WR) – Washington Commanders
• Rasheed Walker (OT) – Green Bay Packers
• Eric Wilson* (OL) – New Orleans Saints
• Arnold Ebiketie (DE) – Atlanta Falcons
• Jesse Luketa (DE/LB) – Arizona Cardinals
• Derrick Tangelo* (DT) – Atlanta Falcons
• Brandon Smith (LB) – Carolina Panthers
• Ellis Brooks* (LB) – Green Bay Packers
• Jaquan Brisker (S) – Chicago Bears
• Tariq Castro-Fields (CB) – San Francisco 49ers
• Jordan Stout (K/P) – Baltimore Ravens
• Drew Hartlaub* (DB/ST) – Carolina Panthers
• John Lovett* (RB) – Carolina Panthers

Indicating an undrafted free agent – *

The early part of the draft went about as expected, with Dotson being selected in the first round, and Ebiketie and Brisker going in the second.

In the fourth round, it was a bit of a shock to see Brandon Smith and Jordan Stout go as early as they did; Smith because of a lack of production last season, and Stout because he is a punter.

Tariq Castro Fields was the final selection of the sixth round, after a very steady Penn State career.

One year ago, Rasheed Walker was seen by many draft experts as one of the top offensive tackles in the class, but he fell far short of expectations in his final campaign with the Nittany Lions, and was not selected until the seventh round.

Jesse Luketa, to the surprise of many, slipped all the way to the end of the seventh round and was the final Nittany Lion selected in the 2022 NFL Draft.

To the surprise of many, Ellis Brooks unfortunately went undrafted after a highly productive 2021 season in which he led the team with 100 tackles, but he will still have an opportunity to make a name for himself at the next level.

Derrick Tangelo also played well in his only season with Penn State – especially after PJ Mustipher was lost for the season due to an injury – but he too went undrafted.

After a very underwhelming season for John Lovett, who Penn State Football fans had high hopes for when he transferred in from Baylor, he was signed by his former coach at Baylor, Matt Rhule, to compete for a chance to provide depth to the Panthers’ running back room behind Christian McCaffrey and Chuba Hubbard.

Finally, special teams ace Drew Hartlaub was also signed by the Panthers and will get an opportunity in the NFL after he put on a show with his 40-yard dash at Pro Day, clocking in at 4.22 seconds, which would have tied the NFL Combine record.

Penn State Football players in the transfer portal:

• Ta’Quan Roberson (QB) – UConn
• Noah Cain (RB) – LSU
• Tyler Rudolph (S) – UMass
• Enzo Jennings (S)
• Des Holmes (OL) – Arizona State
• Norval Black (WR)
• Joseph Appiah Darkwa (DL) – Temple
• Justin Weller* (WR)
• Kaleb Konigus* (OL)
• Will Knuttson* (OL)
• Cole Brevard (DL) – Purdue
• Anthony Whigan (OL) – Akron
• AJ Lytton (CB)
• Cam Sullivan-Brown (WR)

Indicating a non-scholarship player – *

There are not many surprises so far in terms of transfer portal departures either, with the biggest name being Noah Cain transferring home to Baton Rouge to finish his career as an LSU Tiger.

Cole Brevard also transferred home to Purdue, which is just over an hour from his hometown of Carmel, IN. He is an extremely talented defensive tackle with a bright future, but he would have struggled to see much playing time at Penn State, which speaks to the depth at that position which could be strength for the Nittany Lions for the first time in a long time.

Ta’Quan Roberson came as no surprise, as he was unproductive when he got his shot this season, and with Sean Clifford returning and two very talented freshmen coming in, it was best for both parties for him to move on. He will continue his career at UConn, which is a great opportunity for him to showcase his abilities and have success at a lower level of Division I football.

Penn State Football additions via the transfer portal:

• Mitchell Tinsley (WR) – Western Kentucky
• Hunter Nourzad (OL) – Cornell
• Dameioun Robinson (Edge) – Maryland

Mitchell Tinsley was a second team all-conference selection at wide receiver in Conference USA, and he was a highly productive #2 target for a high-powered Western Kentucky offense that averaged 44.2 points per game (2nd nationally).

Tinsley hauled in 87 catches for 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns this season for the Hilltoppers. At 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, he will be a great compliment to Parker Washington at wide receiver in 2022, which is Tinsley’s final year of eligibility.

James Franklin and Phil Trautwein continue to search for answers up front, and they once again turned to the transfer portal and landed All-Ivy League offensive lineman, Hunter Nourzad, who will have two years of eligibility remaining, and should at the very least provide some depth to the interior of the offensive line, even if he does not start in 2021.

In looking to replace Arnold Ebiketie and Jesse Luketa on the edge, the Nittany Lions landed Dameioun Robinson, who played linebacker with Maryland, but figures to primarily be an edge rusher with the Nittany Lions.

Last year was Robinson’s true freshman season, so the former No. 4 edge rusher in the class of 2021 will have three years of eligibility remaining.

Penn State Football class of 2022 early enrollees:

• Drew Allar (QB)
• Beau Pribula (QB)
• Nicholas Singleton (RB)
• Kaytron Allen (RB)
• Kaden Saunders (WR)
• Omari Evans (WR)
• Jerry Cross (TE)
• JB Nelson (OL)
•  Zane Durant (DL)
• Cam Miller (DB)

After a season when the offensive side of the ball was the primary issue, it is good to see many of the early enrollees being offensive players.

Drew Allar and Beau Pribula can begin their development under Mike Yurcich, and running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen can begin to prove that they deserve an opportunity to produce right away in a deep running back room.

Wide receivers Kaden Saunders and Omari Evans can get a head start on their collegiate development, as the Nittany Lions look to have a deeper wide receiver room than the top-heavy one they had in 2021.

Coming in from the Lackawanna Community College pipeline, JB Nelson can also get a jumpstart on trying to make a positive impact for an offensive line group that will have all eyes on them going forward.

Many members of the 2022 recruiting class will look to make an immediate impact, including many of these early enrollees.

The following Nittany Lions are no longer on the roster, but have not yet announced whether they plan to continue their football career elsewhere. 

• Mike Miranda (OL)
• Fred Hansard (DT)
• Rafael Checca (K)

Miranda and Hansard both have the option of a sixth year of eligibility, as a result of the Covid impact on the 2020 season, if they choose to use it at another school.

Following a decent 2020 season at guard, Mike Miranda’s production went downhill as he transitioned over to center in 2021.

After being the kickoff specialist in 2018 as a true freshman, Rafael Checca did not see any action until he became the holder for the 2021 season.

Finally, defensive tackle Aenaes Hawkins has remaining collegiate eligibility, but has already announced that he is hanging up his cleats and retiring from the game. He is now working alongside Sean Clifford for his NIL company, Limitless.