Penn State’s massive transition from James Franklin to Matt Campbell is underway, and the new staff has spent college football’s lone Transfer Portal window flipping the roster. Currently, as of Wednesday afternoon (1/14), Penn State has 36 incoming transfers and 47 outgoing transfers still in the portal.
Players are still allowed to jump into the portal through the end of the week, with the window closing on Friday, January 16. As long as they are in the portal by then, they can transfer after that date. So, there is still work to do for Campbell and general manager Derek Hoodjer, but with the majority of the work already done, we can take a moment to evaluate the haul.
Penn State’s transfer class will be transformational for the program, but that doesn’t mean it’s been perfect for the new staff. Penn State has had a few disappointing misses in the portal window, and these three players top the list.
1. Jontez Williams, CB, Iowa State->USC
Matt Campbell has much of his Iowa State roster following him to Happy Valley, but he was unable to convince his No. 1 cornerback, Jontez Williams, to go east. Instead, Williams looked west, committing to USC for his final year of eligibility.
With AJ Harris leaving for Indiana, Penn State needed cornerback help, and got it with the arrivals of Jeremiah Cooper and Ibn McDaniels, but Williams was one of the best players on the Iowa State roster, and to lose out to another Big Ten program stings.
2. Quincy Porter, WR, Ohio State->Notre Dame
The former five-star wide receiver from New Jersey nearly committed to the Nittany Lions in the 2025 high school class, so after one season at Ohio State, it seemed possible that he’d circle back around to Happy Valley. Instead, it never seemed as though Penn State worked its way into the running, and this week, Porter committed to Notre Dame.
Campbell and wide receiver coach Noah Pauley have addressed the position that has been the program’s most glaring weakness for years this offseason with five incoming wide receivers, including four from Iowa State. However, the Nittany Lions still may lack a true difference maker on the outside, and Porter could have filled that role for years to come.
3. Xion Chapman, DL, FIU->Minnesota
Xion Chapman took a visit to Penn State after entering the transfer portal, but ultimately, the 6-foot-4, 300-pound defensive tackle found his way to Minnesota. Penn State has been intentional about flipping the defensive line, adding bigger bodies for new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn and his defensive line coach, Ikaika Malloe. At 6-foot-4, Chapman, an Allentown, PA native and former Lackawanna College transfer, would fit the bill. Plus, he has serious pass rush juice after totalling 24 pressures in 2025, his first season in the FBS.