How Penn State Turned Over Half Its Football Roster In The Transfer Portal

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Penn State's shot roster underwent a singular translator during nan January transportation portal window, which closed Friday aft 2 non-stop weeks. What Penn State coach Matt Campbell did apt represents nan biggest roster overhaul successful nan program's history.

The numbers, though expected, still underscore conscionable really different nan Nittany Lions will look successful 2026. Penn State announced Friday that it has signed 39 players (so far) from nan portal, 23 of whom played for Campbell astatine Iowa State past season.

Further, Penn State announced 11 early enrolles successful nan 2026 recruiting class, which Campbell besides has importantly upgraded since December. As Penn State catches its activity from nan portal, here's a look astatine nan team's caller roster.

Penn State's shot roster by nan numbers

Penn State Nittany Lions tight extremity Andrew Rappleyea (87) runs pinch nan shot against Clemson Tigers cornerback Branden Strozier (1) during nan first half of nan 2025 Pinstripe Bowl astatine Yankee Stadium. | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

102: Players presently connected Penn State's roster

52: Players from Penn State's 2025 roster who remained pinch nan program

50: Players who transferred from Penn State aft nan 2025 season

39: Transfers who person signed pinch Penn State

34: Transfers who played astatine Power 4 programs past season

28: Transfers from nan Big 12

23: Iowa State players transferring to Penn State

11: Early enrollees of nan 2026 recruiting class

RELATED: How Penn State's outbound transfers are faring successful nan portal

What to cognize astir Penn State's transportation class

Iowa State Cyclones' backmost Rocco Becht (3) hands disconnected nan shot moving backmost Carson Hansen (26). | Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Campbell rebuilt aggregate position groups successful nan transportation portal, notably some lines, receiver and quarterback. Penn State signed 7 violative linemen and 7 protect linemen, though that DL mislaid 14 players to eligibility and portal departures.

Among nan apical linemen are Trevor Buhr, a 6-4, 325-pound defender who started 12 games for Iowa State nan past 2 seasons; and Texas State's Brock Riker, a halfway who earned respective nods connected freshman All-America Teams.

Siale Taupaki is nan astir intriguing protect lineman, an eighth-year player who signed pinch UCLA successful 2019. He played successful 12 games, starting one, for nan Bruins past season.

Penn State's marque caller backmost room includes not only Rocco Becht, a three-year starter astatine Iowa State, but besides his backup successful Alex Manske. At wide receiver, Iowa State's apical duo of Chase Sowell and Brett Eskildsen lead a room pinch 5 transfers. Sowell is playing for his 4th team, having transferred from Colorado to East Carolina to Iowa State to Penn State.

RELATED: Evaluating Penn State's transportation people beyond Iowa State

Where other are Penn State's transfers from?

UCLA Bruins protect lineman Siale Taupaki (92) during nan first 4th against nan Minnesota Golden Gophers astatine nan Rose Bowl. | Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

Campbell scouted not only his ain roster but besides those of nan Big 12. He brought successful transfers from Oklahoma State, Utah, West Virginia and Colorado. Meanwhile, erstwhile Ohio State moving backmost James Peoples, a 4-star Texas imaginable successful nan 2024 recruiting class, looks for a caller commencement astatine Penn State.

Penn State besides signed a brace of protect tackles from UCLA, pinch Keanu Williams, a 320-pound redshirt senior, joining Taupaki successful State College.

Elsewhere, nan Nittany Lions picked up players from Grambling, Texas State, James Madison. Division II Tiffin University and Saint Francis, which is transitioning to Division III.

Growing nan recruiting class

Penn State backmost perpetrate Peyton Falzone of Nazareth (Pa.) High astatine his Signing Day ceremonial pinch Penn State and Nazareth helmets. | Mark Wogenrich | Penn State connected SI

Penn State's 2026 recruiting people had conscionable 2 signees successful December: quarterback Peyton Falzone and defensive extremity Jackson Ford. They will enroll successful January pinch 9 different members of a increasing class.

Five of nan early enrollees initially signed pinch Campbell's Iowa State people earlier flipping to Penn State. Among them is backmost Kase Evans, who threw 11,640 yards and 120 touchdowns astatine Lexington (Texas) High. Campbell besides pried distant 295-pound violative lineman Mason Bandhauer, whose begetter Todd played backmost astatine Iowa State.

The freshman people besides includes a James Madison flip, protect backmost Christian Askew, and State College High moving backmost D'Antae Sheffey.

Matt Campbell's position of nan portal

Penn State Nittany Lions coach Matt Campbell, left, speaks pinch Penn State University diversion head Pat Kraft during a property convention astatine Beaver Stadium. | Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Campbell will beryllium much of a situational portal coach erstwhile he establishes his roster astatine Penn State, though he'll person much resources than he did astatine Iowa State. That should thief him turn a roster done targeted elite talent alternatively than volume. Still, Campbell said he intends to stay a developmental coach.

"We person a process," Campbell said. "We cognize what we're looking for successful nan transportation portal and person to usage that to proceed to supplement our shot team. Nobody will beryllium amended astatine processing our student-athletes and our precocious schoolhouse shot players amended than us.

"We've proven that each measurement of nan way. I deliberation you tin inquire Brock Purdy, Breece Hall, David Montgomery, Will McDonald. The flash, nan stars, that's cool connected signing day. But winning shot games connected Saturday is what we're going to beryllium about. That's development. We're going to person to beryllium amended than anybody successful assemblage football."

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