As Penn State transitioned from James Franklin to Matt Campbell this offseason, the program saw by far the most transfer portal activity in its history.
Especially after arriving days after Penn State signed just two players in the 2026 high school class during the Early Signing Period, Campbell had to import much of his roster from Ames while much of Franklin’s roster followed him to Blacksburg. Now, the roster is set for 2026, but the reshuffling may not be finished as Campbell works to construct the roster in his image.
Much of that may occur in fall camp as Campbell and his staff finalize the depth chart. The rest will happen next offseason in what will likely be another active portal cycle for the Nittany Lions.
A lot can change between now and the portal window in January, but as things currently stand, considering the depth chart, playing time, eligibility, and their presumed standing on the current roster, these five players are the most likely to head out of Happy Valley after the season.
Chimdy Onoh was part of a loaded 2023 offensive line class for Penn State. However, Anthony Donkoh is the only member of that group who has started at Penn State. Five-stars Alex Birchmeier and J’Ven Williams both transferred out this offseason, and Onoh could follow suit, with junior Cooper Cousins and redshirt junior Trevor Buhr expected to be the team’s starting right and left guard, respectively.
Buhr will have one year of eligibility remaining, and thanks to the new five-in-five rule implemented this summer, Cousins has two years left despite never redshirting.
Though offensive line coach Phil Trautwein left for Florida, Penn State did a nice job keeping together much of its offensive line. That includes Sexton, who will battle with Malachi Goodman and Owen Aliciene to start at left tackle. Anthony Donkoh has right tackle locked up, so if Sexton, a redshirt sophomore competing with two redshirt freshmen for the spot, loses out, there may not be a clear path to the field at tackle.
Offensive tackle talent is scarce in the portal market. It’s also one of the biggest needs across college football. So, if Sexton appears to be a starting caliber but is left backing up Goodman, he could secure a huge payday in the portal.
By no means is 6-foot-4, 276-pound Liam Andrews a small guy. However, by new defensive line coach Ikaika Malloe's standards, he’s undeniably undersized. Malloe wants massive interior defensive linemen, which he proved by bringing in 6-foot-2, 310-pound Armstrong Nnodim, 6-foot-2, 326-pound Siale Taupaki, 6-foot-5, 317-pound Keanu Williams, and 6-foot-2, 326-pound Dallas Vakalahi.
He was recruited by Deion Barnes, who values quickness and speed at the position. Now, Andrews simply doesn’t fit the mold for Penn State under Malloe and defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn. He’s expected to be relatively buried on the depth chart, and unless he can add weight to his frame, he will have a tough time working his way onto the field.
In-state four-star QB Peyton Falzone almost became a blue-chip recruit without a home in the 2026 cycle. After originally committing to James Franklin at Penn State, he flipped to Auburn. Then, after Hugh Freeze was fired at Auburn, he decommitted and signed with the head coach-less Nittany Lions on Early Signing Day.
Falzone is the most highly-rated QB on the roster, but he wasn’t Campbell’s guy. Texas three-star Kase Evans was, and he got released from his Iowa State signing to join the Nittany Lions. There’s a chance Falzone plays himself into being the heir apparent. But more likely, he’ll eventually be heading elsewhere where he can be a more prominent piece of his head coach’s plan.
A three-star in the 2023 class, Wallace has bided his time and battled brutal injuries, including breaking bones in both of his legs in 2024 against Kent State. However, heading into his penultimate year of eligibility, pending a possible medical hardship waiver, Wallace still appears to be buried on the depth chart.
Carson Hansen came with Campbell from Iowa State, and Penn State added James Peoples from Ohio State. Those two veteran transfers are expected to form a three-headed monster with Quinton Martin Jr. for 2026, and both Peoples and Martin have eligibility beyond this season. Wallace has just 24 career carries. And if he wants to see more playing time, he may have to look for it elsewhere.
Add us as a preferred source on Google