After firing incoming Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin in October, the future of Penn State football was completely flipped upside down. It was no longer the number of graduating Nittany Lions being the main cause for concern.
While the team didn't sustain a ton of hits on the roster immediately after firing Franklin, hiring head coach Matt Campbell sparked a number of exits from players eligible to return to Penn State in 2026.
Likewise, players from Iowa State also declared their intent to enter the Transfer Portal and started doing so when it opened on Jan. 2. Needless to say, there will be a lot of in-and-out from both programs.
Here’s a look at Penn State’s 2025-26 Transfer Portal activity:
Recent Penn State Transfer Portal activity:
- Wednesday, Jan. 14: Penn State linebacker DaKaari Nelson transfers to North Carolina State.
- Wednesday, Jan. 14: Penn State linebacker Kari Jackson transfers to Toledo.
- Wednesday, Jan. 14: Penn State wide receiver Tyseer Denmark transfers to Virginia Tech.
- Wednesday, Jan. 14: Iowa State defensive lineman Ikenna Ezeogu commits to Penn State.
- Wednesday, Jan. 14: Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer commits to transfer to Virginia Tech.
- Wednesday, Jan. 14: Penn State cornerback Kenny Woseley commits to Virginia Tech.
- Tuesday, Jan. 13: Penn State defensive lineman Randy Adirika transfers to Virginia Tech.
- Tuesday, Jan. 13: Tiffin offensive tackle Tyshon Huff commits to Penn State.
- Tuesday, Jan. 13: Penn State safety Antoine Belgrave-Shorter transfers to Arizona State.
Full list of incoming transfers:
- Benjamin Brahmer, TE, junior, 6'6" 215 lbs Eligibility: 1yr
- Will Tompkins, OT, freshman, 6'4" 270 lbs Eligibility: 4yrs
- Marcus Neal, S, sophomore, 6'1" 180 lbs Eligibility: 2yrs
- Gabe Burkle, TE, redshirt junior. 67' 230 lbs Eligibility: 1yr
- Rocco Becht, QB, redshirt junior, 6'1" 194 lbs Eligibility: 1yr
- Alex Manske, QB, freshman, 6'3" 225 lbs Eligibility: 4yrs
- Brett Eskildsen, WR, sophomore, 6'2" 180 lbs Eligibility: 2yrs
- Caleb Bacon, LB, redshirt senior, 6'3" 240 lbs Eligibility: 1yr
- Carson Hansen, RB, junior, 6'1" 190 lbs Eligibility: 1yr
- Kuol Kuol, OT, freshman, 6'5" 250 lbs Eligibility: 4yrs
- Cael Brezina, LB, sophomore, 6'3" 210 lbs Eligibility: 2yrs
- Trevor Buhr, IOL, redshirt sophomore, 6'4" 265 lbs Eligibility: 2yrs
- Kooper Ebel, LB, junior, 6'3" 200 lbs Eligibility: 1yr
- Karon Brookins, WR, freshman, 6'4" 280 lbs Eligibility: 4yrs
- Alijah Carnell, DL, redshirt freshman, 6'6" 280 lbs Eligibility: 3yrs
- Chase Sowell, WR, redshirt junior, 6'3" 210 lbs Eligibility: 1yr
- Jamison Patton, S, junior, 6'2" 190 lbs Eligibility: 1yr
- Hunter Sowell, CB, freshman, 5'10" 170 lbs Eligibility: 4yrs
- Zay Robinson, WR, freshman, 6'0" 175 lbs Eligibility: 4yrs
- Siale Taupaki, DL, redshirt senior, 6'2" 337 lbs Eligibility: 1yr
- Keanu Williams, DL, redshirt senior, 6'5" 320 lbs Eligibility: 1yr
- Vaea Ikakoula, IOL, freshman, 6'3", 355 lbs Eligibility: 4yrs
- Alexander McPherson, EDGE, freshman, 6'5.5" 240 lbs Eligibility: 3yrs
- Armstrong Nnodim, DL, redshirt freshman, 6'2" 290 lbs Eligibility: 3yrs
- James Peoples, RB, sophomore, 5'10" 206 lbs Eligibility: 2yrs
- Dallas Vakalahi, DL, sophomore, 6'2", 305 lbs Eligibility: 2yrs
- Omarion Davis, S, freshman, 5'11" 188 lbs Eligibility: 3yrs
- Ibn McDaniels, CB, redshirt freshman, 6'3" 205 lbs Eligibility: 3yrs
- Cooper Alexander, TE, redshirt freshman, 6'4" 215 lbs Eligibility: 3yrs
- Brock Riker, IOL, sophomore, 6'4" 286 lbs Eligibility: 3yrs
- Chris Fileppo, S, freshman, 6'3" 210 lbs Eligibility: 3yrs
- Jeremiah Cooper, CB, senior, 5'11" 163 lbs Eligibility: 1yr
- Nathan Tiyce, P, freshman, 6'5" 230 lbs Eligibility: 3yrs
- Keith Jones, WR, redshirt freshman, 6'4" 210 lbs Eligibility: 3yrs
- Tyshon Huff, OT, redshirt sophomore, 6'4" 300 lbs Eligibility: 2yrs
- Ikenna Ezeogu, DL, redshirt junior, 6'4" 218 lbs Eligibility: 1yr
Full list of outgoing transfers:
- Joey Schlaffer, TE, redshirt sophomore, 6'5" 250 lbs
- Elliot Washington II, CB, junior, 5'11" 200 lbs
- Chaz Coleman, EDGE, freshman, 6'4" 220 lbs
- Alex Birchmeier, OL, redshirt sophomore, 6'5" 304 lbs
- Anthony Ivey, WR, redshirt junior, 5'11" 191 lbs
- Keon Wylie, LB, redshirt junior, 6'2" 225 lbs
- Bekkem Kritza, QB, freshman, 6'5" 195 lbs
- Kaden Saunders, WR, redshirt junior, 5'10" 182 lbs
- Xavier Gilliam, DL, redshirt freshman, 6'2" 302 lbs
- Jaylen Harvey, EDGE, redshirt freshman, 6'2" 250 lbs
- Anthony Speca, LB, redshirt freshman, 6'2" 226 lbs
- Samuel Siafa, DL, redshirt junior, 6'4" 292 lbs
- T.J. Shanahan, IOL, redshirt sophomore, 6'4" 316 lbs
- Luke Reynolds, TE, sophomore, 6'4" 248 lbs
- Ethan Grunkemeyer, QB, redshirt freshman, 6'2" 207 lbs
- J'ven Williams, IOL, redshirt sophomore, 6'5" 319 lbs
- Jeff Exinor, WR, freshman, 6'1" 221 lbs
- Josiah Brown, WR, redshirt freshman, 5'11" 176 lbs
- Eagan Boyer, OT, redshirt freshman, 6'8" 302 lbs
- Lamont Payne, S, redshirt sophomore, 6'0" 192 lbs
- King Mack, S, junior, 5'10" 192 lbs
- Cam Wallace, RB, redshirt sophomore, 5'9" 200 lbs
- Jaxon Smolik, QB, redshirt sophomore, 6'1" 201 lbs
- Corey Smith, RB, redshirt freshman, 5'10" 189 lbs
- Karson Kiesewetter, S, redshirt sophomore, 5'10" 200 lbs
- Matt Henderson, TE, freshman, 6'5" 236 lbs
- Antoine Belgrave-Shorter, S, redshirt freshman, 6'0" 195 lbs
- DaKaari Nelson, LB, redshirt sophomore, 6'3" 233 lbs
- Andrew Olesh, TE, freshman, 6'5" 230 lbs
- Kolin Dinkins, CB, redshirt junior, 6'2" 203 lbs
- Amare Campbell, LB, junior, 6'0" 230 lbs
- A.J. Harris, CB, junior, 6'1" 193 lbs
- Kenny Woseley, CB, redshirt freshman, 5'10" 180 lbs
- Kaleb Artis, DL, redshirt junior, 6'4" 312 lbs
- Brady O'Hara, OT, freshman, 6'6" 295 lbs
- Mylachi Williams, EDGE, redshirt freshman, 6'3" 243 lbs
- Cortez Harris, EDGE, freshman, 6'3" 228 lbs
- Dejuan Lane, S, sophomore, 6'2" 211 lbs
- Randy Adirika, DL, freshman, 6'3" 305 lbs
- Owen Wafle, DL, sophomore, 6'2" 292 lbs
- Tyseer Denmark, WR, redshirt freshman, 5'10" 185 lbs
- Jabree Wallace-Coleman, RB, freshman, 6'0" 210 lbs
- Michael Troutman, IOL, freshman, 6'2" 300 lbs
- Matthew Outten, WR, freshman, 6'1" 217 lbs
- Tikey Hayes, RB, freshman, 5'11" 200 lbs
- Enai White, EDGE, redshirt junior, 6'5" 280 lbs
- Kari Jackson, WR, redshirt freshman, 5'10" 185 lbs