Last updated Jan. 7, 2026.
Penn State’s roster will look a lot different next season, with players leaving for the NFL, running out of eligibility or transferring out.
But a growing list of players have announced plans to return next season, providing some level of continuity amid a changing staff.
Here’s a look at Nittany Lions who will spend at least one more year in Happy Valley. (This list will be updated as more announcements are made.)
Offensive lineman Caleb Brewer (added 1/7): Brewer announced his intent to return to Penn State on Wednesday night, with an Instagram post simply captioned “Staying.” Brewer is a former three-star recruit from Reading, Pennsylvania, who ranked as the No. 15 in-state player in the 2024 class. He’s yet to see action through two seasons in Happy Valley but could develop into a future contributor.
Running back Tikey Hayes (added 1/7): Hayes was one of the few remaining question marks on the roster, but he provided an answer on Wednesday afternoon. Following his freshman season at Penn State, Hayes will return to the program next season, he announced on Instagram. Hayes saw no action until the Pinstripe Bowl against Clemson, when he played 10 snaps and took three carries for 18 yards. With transfer portal additions from Iowa State’s Carson Hansen and Ohio State’s James Peoples, the running back room will still be crowded at the top, but Hayes may see an uptick in usage as a rotational back in 2026 before stepping into a bigger role down the line.
Offensive lineman Malachi Goodman (added 1/4): While some recruiting outlets ranked him as a four-star, 247Sports pegged Goodman as a five-star, the No. 1 prospect in New Jersey, the No. 5 offensive tackle and No. 19 overall recruit in the 2025 class, making him a prized recruit. While he didn’t see the field in 2025, the ceiling is high for Goodman, who will return as a redshirt freshman next season, he announced on Sunday night.
Wide receiver Tyseer Denmark (added 1/4): A key young piece of Penn State’s offense, Denmark will return for a third season in blue and white. He’s played sparingly across the last two seasons, with 43 snaps in 2024 and 28 in 2025, gathering four receptions for 45 yards, but he’s drawn praise from coaches and teammates as a potential future contributor. He’ll work under wide receivers coach Noah Pauley, who arrived from Iowa State with an impressive resume.
Defensive tackle Ty Blanding (added 1/4): Blanding has seen his playing time increase exponentially since arriving on campus as a three-star recruit in 2023, going from three snaps in a redshirt year to 53 in 2024 to 228 this season. He’s poised for another leap next season after announcing his return, with Zane Durant, Xavier Gilliam and Alonzo Ford Jr., the team’s three leading snap-getters, all departing.
Offensive lineman Dom Rulli: (added 1/3) Rulli began his Penn State career as a walk-on but carved out a role on special teams and earned a scholarship. He earned his first start this season in the Pinstripe Bowl and played well in place of Nick Dawkins, earning the highest PFF grade of any lineman. Rulli will be a redshirt senior next season as he contends for a starting role in the offense.
Cornerback Zion Tracy (1/3): Tracy carved out a niche as a nickel cornerback in 2024 when Tom Allen implemented a 4-2-5 scheme, playing in all 16 games and starting four of them while splitting reps with Cam Miller. When Miller transferred to Rutgers, Tracy took over as the full time starter this season and played well, but not enough to put himself in draft conversations. On Saturday, Tracy announced he’ll return for his senior season, giving the cornerback room a boost headed into next season.
Cornerback Jahmir Joseph (added 1/3): The freshman had a productive first season on campus, appearing for 91 snaps including a high of 43 in the Pinstripe Bowl win over Clemson, when he recorded five tackles. Joseph, a former four-star recruit out of New Jersey, earned praise throughout the offseason and recorded a pick-six against Nevada, showcasing his talent. He’ll battle for a starting role next season and will likely play significant snaps regardless. His return marks a major win for the coaching staff.
Defensive end Mason Robinson (added 1/3): Robinson, a former three-star recruit out of Maryland, will return for his redshirt junior season at Penn State, he announced on Saturday. Robinson has yet to see the field for the Nittany Lions.
Defensive tackle Liam Andrews (added 1/2): Andrews will return to Penn State for his redshirt sophomore season, he announced on Friday night. Though he played sparingly, totaling just 20 snaps this year, Andrews is a former four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 18 defensive lineman in the 2024 class, per the 247Sports composite. With the Nittany Lions’ defensive tackle depth thinning out, Andrews could compete for meaningful playing time next season under new defensive line coach Ikaika Malloe.
Defensive tackle De’Andre Cook (added 1/2): Cook has played sparingly throughout two seasons at Penn State, seeing just 12 total snaps. The former three-star will look to up that number next season when he returns as a redshirt sophomore. With Zane Durant headed to the NFL and Xavier Gilliam entering the transfer portal, Cook has a chance to climb the depth chart in 2026.
Tight end Finn Furmanek (added 1/2): The former walk-on will return for his redshirt junior season in 2026, this time with a scholarship, according to On3’s Sean Fitz. Furmanek has seen 22 total snaps, including 19 in 2025, according to PFF, but he’s yet to record a reception. He’ll remain with the Nittany Lions despite tight ends coach Ty Howle heading to Virginia Tech.
Tight end Brian Kortovich (added 1/2): Kortovich was one of four tight end commits in Penn State’s 2025 class and didn’t see the field as a true freshman, but he’ll have more opportunities next season. The former three-star recruit out of Cleveland had interest from several Big Ten schools out of high school. Kortovich joins Furmanek and Andrew Rappleyea as tight ends who’ve confirmed their return.
Wide receiver Peter Gonzalez (added 1/2): Gonzalez, a Pitt legacy, opted to join Penn State’s 2024 class and will remain with the Nittany Lions into 2026. The former three-star recruit hit a snag with a season-ending injury his freshman year and was listed as out on every availability report this year with another undisclosed injury. Assuming he returns to health, Gonzalez could be a contributor for Penn State next season.
Offensive lineman Liam Horan (added 1/2): Horan, a walk-on, arrived on campus in 2024 and redshirted his first season. This year, he was unavailable with an undisclosed injury. He’ll return next season searching for his first snaps as a Nittany Lion.
Running back Quinton Martin Jr. (added 1/2): Martin stepped into a starting role for the first time in the Pinstripe Bowl, and while he got off to a sluggish start, he finished with 20 carries for 103 yards in his only action of the season, making a strong case to be RB1 in 2026. Martin ranked as the No. 6 running back and No. 3 Pennsylvania native in the 2023 class but spent two seasons behind Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton on the depth chart, limiting his playing time, but he’s in the mix to start next season.
Defensive end Yvan Kemajou (added 1/2): Kemajou played 238 snaps this season, the second-most among freshmen behind only Daryus Dixson. While fellow freshman Chaz Coleman earned most of the buzz, Kemajou quietly established himself as a talented underclassman in a deep defensive end room, setting the stage for a potential starting role next season. The former four-star recruit was viewed as an important retention piece headed into next season.
Safety Vaboue Toure (added 1/2): Toure will return to Penn State for his redshirt sophomore season after seeing an increased role this season. The former four-star recruit went from 41 snaps in 2024 to 90 in 2025, setting the stage for a larger role next season, especially with multiple safeties heading out. He saw 31 snaps in the Pinstripe Bowl against Clemson, a career high, and racked up seven tackles, tied for the team lead, plus a sack.
Offensive lineman Henry Boehme (added 1/2): Boehme, a walk-on, has seen just one snap through two seasons in Happy Valley, a garbage-time rep against Nebraska. He’ll give Penn State added depth at tackle in 2026.
Kicker Ryan Barker (added 1/2): In the wee hours of Friday morning, Barker announced on social media he’ll return to Penn State next season as a redshirt junior. Barker broke the program record for single-season field goal percentage this year and is on pace to shatter the career record as well. Through two seasons, he’s converted 33 of 37 field-goal attempts and 92 of 94 extra points, making him a valuable retention for head coach Matt Campbell and Co, who will also retain special teams coordinator Justin Lustig.
Cornerback Daryus Dixson (added 1/1): Dixson arrived as arguably the most polished freshman on the team this year, earning praise from coaches and teammates throughout the preseason. Dixson saw substantial playing time even in the season-opener and quickly burned his redshirt, but it wasn’t until the Michigan State game where he truly broke out. With veteran A.J. Harris out with injury, Dixson got his first start and capitalized with five tackles and a fumble recovery, earning a permanent starting role for the final three games. He continued to show improvement, breaking up two passes against Rutgers and three against Clemson, and was viewed as a key player to retain.
Wide receiver Koby Howard (added 1/1): Though he finished his freshman season with just seven receptions for 133 yards, Howard quickly established himself as a fan favorite. While other wide receivers struggled to produce, Howard consistently created explosive plays while receiving limited playing time. His role grew throughout the year, setting him up to push for a starting role in 2026. The former four-star likely would’ve received interest in the portal, but he’ll stay put in State College.
Offensive lineman Chimdy Onoh (added 1/1): A former four-star recruit, Onoh will return to Penn State for his redshirt junior season. He’s seen just 38 snaps through three seasons, including just two in 2025, but the path to playing time will open up next season with four offensive line starters and other depth pieces departing. Onoh, a Maryland native, was recruited as an offensive tackle and converted to guard.
Cornerback Audavion Collins (added 1/1): Collins worked his way into a starting role this season, totaling 47 tackles and three pass breakups across 538 snaps. He’ll likely retain a starting role in 2026, working under new secondary coach Deon Broomfield from Iowa State. Collins, a former three-star recruit, began his career at Mississippi State before transferring to Happy Valley. He won’t be transferring again though, committing to remain at Penn State for his fifth and final season.
Linebacker Tony Rojas (added 1/1): Penn State secured a major win by retaining Rojas for his senior season, who announced his decision on X. The former four-star recruit earned a starting role as a sophomore in 2024, though injuries prevented him from reaching his potential. Entering this season at full health, Rojas was one of Nittany Lions’ top defenders before going down with a season-ending injury against Oregon. He’s expected to retain a starting role next season as he looks to improve his draft stock. The last few months have been filled with drama, as rumors circulated connecting Rojas to Virginia Tech, where he could potentially rejoin James Franklin and return to his home state, or Miami, which allegedly reached out to gauge his interest recently. Instead, Rojas will finish out his career in blue and white, potentially influencing fellow Virginia native Amare Campbell to remain in State College next season as well.
Defensive end Max Granville (added 1/1): Though he missed the entire 2025 season with injury, Granville was impressive as a true freshman in 2024, appearing in four regular season games and three postseason games to maintain his redshirt status. Granville is poised to become a contributor in 2026 with Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zuriah Fisher, Jaylen Harvey and Chaz Coleman all departing this offseason.
Offensive lineman Garrett Sexton (added 1/1): Sexton redshirted his first season and played sparingly in his second, but his return gives Penn State some much-needed depth along the offensive line after losing four starters. Sexton was a four-star and the No. 2 Wisconsin native in the 2024 class, and could develop into a starter in a season or two.
Linebacker Alex Tatsch (added 1/1): Tatsch had a slow start to the season, but worked his way into an increased role down the stretch, burning his redshirt while appearing for 108 snaps this season. The former four-star recruit from Latrobe finished with 14 tackles and a pass breakup, and could contend for a larger role next season with the departures of Dom DeLuca and Keon Wylie.
Offensive lineman Cooper Cousins: A versatile offensive lineman who can play anywhere on the interior, Cousins became the first player to announce he’s staying at Penn State in 2026, a major retention for Campbell. The former top-100 recruit has been a Nittany Lion for two seasons and earned his first start in a Pinstripe Bowl win over Clemson. Cousins, a Pennsylvania native, is projected to start next season.
Offensive lineman Anthony Donkoh: Donkoh began the season with NFL draft projections, but inconsistent play tanked his stock, leading to a return for his redshirt junior season. The former four-star recruit is a two-year starter, playing at both right guard and right tackle throughout the year. In all likelihood, he’ll retain his starting role next season as he looks to regain footing on draft boards.
Offensive lineman Owen Aliciene: The freshman saw no playing time in 2025 but was a four-star prospect out of high school and could see an increased role next season. The Connecticut native will provide depth on an offensive line losing four starters this offseason.
Tight end Andrew Rappleyea: Rappleyea started the year as TE3 in snaps behind redshirt senior Khalil Dinkins and sophomore Luke Reynolds, but was getting the lion’s share by the end of the year. Rappleyea established himself as a reliable receiver with 20 receptions for 180 yards and touchdowns in each of his last three games. He also proved to be a reliable blocker, something he said he takes pride in.
