Updated Jan. 14, 2026.
With Penn State’s 2025 season in the books, attention has turned to the transfer portal, where the Nittany Lions will undoubtedly be busy.
The portal is a two-way street, and many players have already announced intentions to take their talents elsewhere, while others will likely be brought in to fill roster holes.
Here’s who’s on the move. (See who’s announced their intentions to stay at Penn State here.)
Wide receiver Tyseer Denmark (added 1/11): Denmark was praised relentlessly by coaches and teammates since arriving on campus as a four-star recruit in 2024, but that never materialized on the field with minimal playing time. Instead, Denmark will head elsewhere, likely in search of more playing time.
Defensive end Randy Adirika (added 1/11): Despite holding three-star status, Adirika received interest from several big-name schools during his initial recruitment out of Miami Central High School. He originally chose the Nittany Lions but will head to Virginia Tech after just one season, which included minimal playing time.
Defensive lineman Sam Siafa (added 1/11): Siafa committed to Penn State as a walk-on ahead of the 2022 season and saw just nine total snaps, all coming in garbage time this season. He was unlikely to see a meaningful role with the Nittany Lions next season and will look for a new home instead.
Linebacker Anthony Speca (added 1/11): Speca was viewed as a promising prospect in a linebacker room needing young players to step up, but he’ll instead head elsewhere. Speca saw 108 total snaps across 10 games the last two seasons and was on pace for a larger role this season, with linebackers coach Dan Connor even describing him as the most similar player to himself. In one of the more unexpected moves, Speca leaves Penn State with even worse depth in the second level of the defense.
Safety Braz Thomas (added 1/11): Thomas is one-and-done at Penn State, hitting the portal after seeing no playing time as a true freshman. Thomas is a former three-star recruit from New Jersey who also had offers from Georgia, Nebraska and others during his initial recruitment.
Running back Tikey Hayes (added 1/10): A former four-star recruit, Hayes spent just one season with Penn State before deciding to depart. The Pennsylvania native didn’t see any action as a freshman and likely wouldn’t have seen much next season either, as the Nittany Lions brought in multiple veteran transfers.
Defensive lineman Enai White (added 1/10): White arrived at Penn State as an intriguing prospect after three seasons of minimal action at Texas A&M, failing to live up to expectations as a top-50 overall recruit and the No. 2 Pennsylvania native in the class. In his lone season with the Nittany Lions, White transitioned from defensive end to defensive tackle but never saw significant playing time at either.
Wide receiver Matthew Outten (added 1/8): Outten became a late entrant into the transfer portal following just one season at Penn State. The former four-star recruit was originally committed to Virginia Tech before flipping to the Nittany Lions, but he could double back and follow head coach James Franklin to Blacksburg.
Wide receiver Aaron Enterline (added 1/8): Enterline entered the transfer portal on Jan. 2 and quickly found a new home, committing to FCS Towson on Jan. 8. He saw just seven offensive snaps last season as a redshirt freshman, though he spent some time working with the two-deep at practice throughout the season.
Offensive lineman Michael Troutman III (added 1/7): Troutman entered the transfer portal after one season at Penn State and has since committed to transfer to Virginia Tech. The former three-star recruit from New Jersey saw no playing time while redshirting during the 2025 campaign.
Running back Jabree Coleman (added 1/7): After just one season with Penn State, Coleman is in the transfer portal in search of a new program. Ranked as a four-star recruit and the No. 7 Pennsylvania native in the 2025 class by the 247Sports composite, Coleman saw no time in a crowded Nittany Lion backfield but is still viewed as a talented player. James Franklin listed Coleman as one of five players contending for Penn State’s RB3 role early in the season, a position which was seemingly won by Quinton Martin Jr., who will return next season. While Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton are departing for the NFL, the Nittany Lions are bringing in Iowa State transfer Carson Hansen and Ohio State transfer James Peoples, keeping competition high in the room and likely influencing Coleman’s decision to leave.
Defensive tackle Owen Wafle (added 1/7): A few days after entering the transfer portal, Wafle paid a visit to Duke and ultimately ended up committing, marking his third school in three seasons. After beginning his career as a four-star recruit at Michigan, Wafle transferred to Penn State and saw 103 snaps, making five tackles. He’ll work under head coach Manny Diaz, who served as the Nittany Lions’ defensive coordinator from 2022-23, prior to Wafle’s arrival.
Safety Dejuan Lane (added 1/6): In a since-deleted X post from New Year’s Day, Lane said he’d “rather drown with my guys before I ever jump ship.” Days later, he had a change of heart, entering the transfer portal after two seasons at Penn State. While not a starter, Lane was a major contributor, playing 290 snaps and totaling 29 tackles and a sack.
Defensive end Mylachi Williams (added 1/6): Williams was ranked as a four-star recruit and the No. 4 Pennsylvania native in the 2024 cycle, per the 247Sports composite rankings. He never had an opportunity to put that on display, garnering no snaps during his initial season and just 35 defensive snaps last season. Instead, Williams departed with four seasons of eligibility remaining, becoming the sixth defensive end to hop into the portal. He’s since pledged to the Hokies.
Defensive end Cortez Harris (added 1/6): After one season with minimal playing time, Harris will transfer to Virginia Tech, he announced. The former four-star recruit and No. 13 prospect in Maryland saw just 20 snaps across three games and will search for a new home this offseason.
Offensive lineman Brady O’Hara (added 1/5): After redshirting his lone season at Penn State, O’Hara is hitting the portal. The former three-star recruit from Pittsburgh was recruited by Ty Howle out of high school, making Virginia Tech a potential landing spot. O’Hara has five seasons of eligibility remaining, he announced in a social media post Monday morning.
Cornerback Kenny Woseley Jr. (added 1/4): Woseley made waves when he earned the starting job as Penn State’s nickel cornerback in Week 1 against Nevada, but he quickly lost the job when junior Zion Tracy returned from injury. Still, Woseley played 238 defensive snaps and totaled 10 tackles as a redshirt freshman, positioning himself as a contributor heading into next season. Instead, he’ll join up with the Hokies for 2026.
Defensive tackle Kaleb Artis (added 1/4): Artis spent four years at Penn State and saw just 66 total defensive snaps, including none in 2025 while dealing with injury. He wasn’t on pace for substantial playing time next season and will head elsewhere with his last year of eligibility. The former three-star totaled seven tackles during his time as a Nittany Lion.
Linebacker Amare Campbell (added 1/4): Campbell led the team in snap count and total tackles this season, serving as a defensive leader and proving to be one of the only players to master defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ scheme. But just like Knowles, Campbell is out after one season at Penn State, taking his final year of eligibility elsewhere. Campbell thanked his coaches, teammates and fans in an X post, but also said he felt undervalued by the Nittany Lions and disrespected by their offer to retain him.
Safety Kolin Dinkins (added 1/4): Dinkins, just like his brother Khalil, is leaving the program this offseason. The safety was unranked as a class of 2022 recruit and saw just 71 defensive snaps in Happy Valley, though he did carve out a role as a special teams contributor, with over 500 snaps across kick and punt return and coverage teams. Dinkins will have one season of eligibility remaining at his next stop.
Tight end Andrew Olesh (added 1/3): Olesh spent just one season in Happy Valley and saw no playing time, but he was considered a high-ceiling player and future starter. Olesh was viewed as a five-star recruit by some recruiting outlets, with On3 listing him as the top tight end in the 2025 class. With Olesh’s transfer, the Nittany Lions will retain just three of seven tight ends from a season ago — Andrew Rappleyea, Finn Furmanek and Brian Kortovich — though Iowa State transfer Benjamin Brahmer recently committed and will battle for the top spot in 2026.
Safety Antoine Belgrave-Shorter (added 1/3): Belgrave-Shorter was on a trajectory to be a major contributor next season, but instead he’s headed across the country to Arizona State. After arriving and redshirting in 2023, Belgrave-Shorter saw 29 defensive snaps in 2024 and 144 in 2025, totaling 20 tackles. He also contributed on the kick coverage team both seasons.
Tight end Matt Henderson (added 1/3): Henderson arrived last offseason as a four-star recruit, but after seeing no playing time this season, he’s headed to Virginia Tech, following James Franklin and Ty Howle to his home state in search of more playing time.
Linebacker DaKaari Nelson (added 1/3): Nelson spent three seasons as a Nittany Lion, playing sparingly. He redshirted his first year before seeing an uptick in playing time with 67 snaps in 2024, recording five total tackles. His usage decreased this season, however, as he played almost exclusively on special teams and only saw two defensive snaps. The former four-star recruit from Alabama will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Running back Corey Smith (added 1/3): Smith was one of several Nittany Lions battling to be Penn State’s RB3 behind Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton, but he was seemingly passed up by Quinton Martin Jr. With Martin returning and the transfer additions of Carson Hansen from Iowa State and James Peoples from Ohio State, the path to playing time remained cloudy entering his third season of college football. Instead, Smith is headed elsewhere.
Safety Karson Kiesewetter (added 1/2): The walk-on quarterback-turned-safety is headed to the portal with two seasons of eligibility remaining, he announced on X. Kiesewetter never saw the field throughout three seasons as a Nittany Lion.
Quarterback Jaxon Smolik (added 1/2): Smolik was a late addition to Penn State’s 2023 recruiting class after quarterback Marcus Stokes flipped his commitment to Florida, but his time as a Nittany Lion has come to a close. When Drew Allar went down with injury and Ethan Grunkemeyer took over as starter, Smolik saw his first snaps against Iowa in a special package which saw him carry the ball four times for three yards. However, he left the contest with a season-ending injury. The former three-star recruit will now head to Temple ahead of his redshirt sophomore season and will likely start against Penn State when the two schools face off next season.
Safety King Mack (added 1/2): Mack will return to the transfer portal for the third time in three years, according to reports. The former top-100 recruit spent his freshman season at Penn State before transferring to Alabama, but after one season in Tuscaloosa, he reentered the portal and returned to the Nittany Lions. Mack earned a starting role during his second stint in blue and white, totaling 58 tackles, three pass breakups and an interception. He recently made comments about the culture within the organization throughout the season, and praised the hire of secondary coach Deon Broomfield from Iowa State. However, safeties coach Anthony Poindexter will reportedly join defensive coordinator Jim Knowles at Tennessee, a possible transfer destination.
Safety Lamont Payne Jr. (added 1/2): Payne’s entrance into the portal isn’t unexpected, as he saw just 10 total snaps through three seasons as a Nittany Lion, recording no stats. The former three-star recruit out of Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, has two years of eligibility remaining, with Tennessee a potential landing spot.
Offensive lineman Eagan Boyer (added 1/2): Boyer was a candidate to step into a bigger role next season as a redshirt sophomore, but he’ll instead be suiting up for a different team. He saw garbage time snaps throughout the last two seasons and made his first start in the Pinstripe Bowl against Clemson at left tackle. The former three-star out of North Carolina may show interest in Florida, a school he received interest from initially and where former Penn State offensive line coach Phil Trautwein was recently hired.
Defensive end Daniel Jennings (added 1/2): Jennings, a former four-star recruit and the No. 1 West Virginia native in the 2025 class, is headed to Blacksburg after one season as a Nittany Lion. Two days after announcing his entrance into the portal, Jennings became the first former Penn State player to commit to Virginia Tech, but he’s since been joined by others.
Wide receiver Josiah Brown (added 1/1): After two seasons at Penn State, Brown is in search of a new home. The former four-star recruit never saw the field and wasn’t projected to play a major role in 2026, likely contributing to the decision. Possible landing spots include Virginia Tech with James Franklin and Michigan, where wide receivers coach Marques Hagans was recently hired after parting ways with the Nittany Lions.
Offensive lineman J’Ven Williams (added 1/1): Williams was the highest-rated recruit in Penn State’s 2023 class, earning five-star status from some recruiting sites. Yet after three seasons, Williams totaled only 141 snaps, including just two last season. After playing sparingly for the Nittany Lions, he signed with Charlotte to try and live up to his blue-chip status.
Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer (added 1/1): Grunkemeyer was viewed as a priority to retain for Penn State’s new coaching staff, but that won’t come to fruition. While his first start at Iowa was shaky, Grunkemeyer showed steady progression in each game and led the Nittany Lions to four consecutive wins to close out the year. The former four-star recruit easily set the program record for single-season completion percentage at 69.1%, showcasing accuracy and poise in the pocket. He opted to follow James Franklin and quarterbacks coach Danny O’Brien to Virginia Tech. However, the Nittany Lions brought in Rocco Becht and Alex Manske, former Iowa State players, to add depth at the position.
Wide receiver Jeff Exinor Jr. (added 1/1): Exinor spent just one season as a Nittany Lion and saw no playing time, but the former four-star was viewed as a potential contributor down the line. Instead, he’ll head to Blacksburg to reunite with Franklin.
Tight end Luke Reynolds (added 1/1): Reynolds arrived on campus as the No. 1 tight end recruit in the country in 2024, but struggled to realize his potential through two seasons. He split time with Khalil Dinkins and Andrew Rappleyea this season, totaling 450 snaps with 26 receptions for 257 yards. While he shined at times in the passing game, particularly with yards after the catch, Reynolds was inconsistent as a blocker and had three drops and a fumble. With Rappleyea seeming stepping into the TE1 role down the stretch, Reynolds will look elsewhere – possibly to his home state of Virginia to rejoin Franklin and Ty Howle.
Offensive lineman TJ Shanahan Jr. (added 1/1): Shanahan transferred in from Texas A&M last offseason and was one of seven offensive linemen Franklin viewed as “starters” heading into the year. Shanahan was in and out of the starting lineup at both left and right guard throughout the season as others battled with injury, most recently starting in the Pinstripe Bowl. He totaled 419 snaps, allowing eight pressures and one sack. He’s headed to Florida, he announced Tuesday, following offensive line coach Phil Trautwein.
Defensive end Jaylen Harvey (added 1/1): Harvey saw 159 snaps this season in a rotational role and was expected to contend for a starting job next season. He totaled nine tackles this season and recorded his first career sack in the Pinstripe Bowl against Clemson. Harvey attended the same high school as former Nittany Lion defensive end Chop Robinson and wore his No. 44 jersey, even performing Robinson’s signature celebration after the sack. Harvey has since announced he’ll be transferring to North Carolina, becoming the third Penn State edge rusher to head to Chapel Hill in the last two seasons along with Smith Vilbert and Joseph Mupoyi.
Wide receiver Kaden Saunders: Saunders arrived at Penn State as a consensus top-100 recruit, but injuries derailed his four seasons in Happy Valley. The Ohio native finished with just eight receptions for 77 yards and one touchdown, plus some time as a punt returner. Though undersized, Saunders brings elite track speed and will have two seasons of eligibility. He picked up offers from Southern Miss and Old Dominion and committed to the Golden Eagles on Wednesday.
Defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam: Gilliam was impressive this season as a redshirt freshman, playing 409 snaps, the second most among defensive tackles. He finished the season with 16 tackles, a forced fumble and half a sack. According to reports, returning to Penn State is still on the table, but he’ll explore other options.
Tight end Joey Schlaffer: Schlaffer was the first Penn State player to announce plans to transfer, stepping away from the team mid-season following Franklin’s firing. He had just one reception, a 19-yard touchdown, in three seasons in Happy Valley. With Andrew Rappleyea and Luke Reynolds ahead of him on the depth chart and expected to return next season, the path to playing time was narrow.
Cornerback Elliot Washington II: Washington announced his intent to enter the portal less than two weeks after the conclusion of the regular season, becoming the second Nittany Lion to do so. He saw meaningful snaps this season, totaling 18 tackles, three pass breakups and an interception. Washington was expected to contend for a starting role next season, but he’ll instead head to Clemson to reunite with former defensive coordinator Tom Allen, who coached him in 2024.
Defensive end Chaz Coleman: Coleman was viewed as one of the top freshmen on the team, showing flashes of talent as a pass rusher. While his run stopping needs improvement, Coleman is still viewed as an elite talent and ranks as a five-star and the second-highest transfer on the market by 247Sports. Ohio State, his hometown school, is viewed as a favorite to land his commitment.
Offensive lineman Alex Birchmeier: Birchmeier was the second-highest recruit in Penn State’s 2023 class, but that never materialized on the field. Birchmeier saw just 34 offensive snaps through three seasons before opting to transfer.
Cornerback A.J. Harris: Harris, a former five-star recruit, will enter the portal for the second time. He spent one season at Georgia, burning his redshirt, before transferring to Penn State for the last two seasons. His 2024 campaign put him in talks as a first-round pick, but a disappointing 2025 season tanked his draft stock. Harris surrendered 23 receptions on 25 targets with two touchdowns, a significant recession from a season ago. Harris is graded as a four-star transfer.
Linebacker Kari Jackson: Jackson, a former three-star recruit, spent two seasons as a Nittany Lion before announcing his intent to transfer. Jackson never saw the field, but would’ve likely had more opportunities in 2026 given the state of the room. Regardless, he announced he’ll be continuing his college career elsewhere.
Defensive end Zuriah Fisher: Fisher, who’s been granted a rare seventh year of eligibility, decided six seasons was enough in Happy Valley. He earned a starting role this season after being injured for all of 2024, posting respectable numbers. He finished the season with 19 tackles and two sacks and is graded as a four-star transfer. He’ll spend his final year at another Big Ten school, USC, which will travel to Happy Valley for a game next season.
Wide receiver Anthony Ivey: Ivey arrived at Penn State in 2022 as a consensus four-star and top-10 Pennsylvania recruit, but he struggled to earn playing time through four seasons, recording just one reception in 2024 and none this season. With freshman Koby Howard and redshirt freshman Tyseer Denmark passing him up on the depth chart, the path to playing time in 2026 was clogged, and with one season of eligibility remaining, his chance to start at Penn State was slim.
Linebacker Keon Wylie: Wylie is one of the more surprising transfers, given his increased role down the stretch. He saw 214 snaps this season — often subbing in for Dom DeLuca, who has run out of eligibility — and was poised to compete for a starting role in 2026. Instead, he’ll play elsewhere with two years of eligibility left.
Quarterback Bekkem Kritza: Kritza, a former four-star recruit, spent just one season at Penn State and saw no playing time, but he’s on the move. This move may signal Ethan Grunkemeyer’s return for next season, and Iowa State quarterbacks Rocco Becht and Alex Manske have already announced they’ll transfer, potentially following Matt Campbell to State College. With a crowded room in front of him, Kritza will look elsewhere.
