Penn State roster tracker: Portal entries and exits, NFL Draft news, more
The Penn State football program will undergo plenty of roster changes between now and the start of the 2022 season.
Blue-White Illustrated will track them all here.
Which players have entered the NCAA transfer portal or joined the Lions from it? Who has made a decision about leaving for the NFL or staying? And what other additions and subtractions have been made to head coach James Franklin’s team?
Below, you’ll find updates on all of those categories and more as the offseason progresses. Sections will expand and condense as the schedule progresses from the bowl game to the beginning of the winter semester, spring practice, and so on.
Transfer portal losses
–Dec. 10, 2021: Rudolph announces on social media that he will continue his college football career at Massachusetts.
–Dec. 8, 2021: Former three-star offensive lineman Des Holmes enters the portal. It appeared that the Class of 2017 signee would be in line for a starting role this fall, but it never happened. That’s why he’s likely to play his final college season elsewhere.
–Dec. 2, 2021: Former four-star safety Enzo Jennings enters the portal. Hopes were high that the Michigan native would make an early impact for Penn State. Instead, he’s looking around after just two seasons in State College.
–Nov. 24, 2021: Safety Tyler Rudolph begins looking for a new college football home. The former four-star On3 Consensus recruit played in just four contests during the 2021 season.
Who is joining Penn State from the transfer portal?
This section will be updated if and when any college football player decides to enter the program.
We will note that the Lions offered UNLV linebacker/end Jacoby Windmon on Dec. 6. He, however, picked Michigan State on Dec. 8.
Penn State seniors who must decide if they are staying or going
The following seniors are eligible to return for a free COVID year of eligibility. That’s thanks to the NCAA granting all athletes one because of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
This section will be updated
WR Norval Black
*WR Jahan Dotson
OL Des Holmes
*DE Arnold Ebiketie
*DE Jesse Luketa
DT Fred Hansard
DT PJ Mustipher
LB Ellis Brooks
*K Jordan Stout
A * means that Dotson, Ebiketie, Luketa, Brisker, and Stout have all accepted Senior Bowl invitations. They could still return, however, despite doing so.
Who is out of eligibility?
For Penn State, that list includes:
RB John Lovett
OG Eric Wilson
DT Derrick Tangelo
S Jaquan Brisker
CB Tariq Castro-Fields
Which Penn State underclassmen are leaving for the NFL Draft, and which are returning?
This section will be updated as information becomes available. As of Dec. 2, no players have made their intentions public.
Penn State positions that could be impacted by the portal
It’s challenging to see all of Penn State’s running backs returning. Lovett has to move on, of course, but others might want to seek greener pastures elsewhere. Receiver is worth watching for the same reason.
Then, along both sides of the line, and also at safety, there are some older players who have been in the program awhile but seemingly have been passed over by their peers. That’s usually a prime reason to enter the portal. We’ve already seen two players do so.
Finally, it depends on what Clifford does, but if he leaves, all eyes will then turn to the quarterback spot. Will Ta’Quan Roberson be back now that he’s been passed over by Christian Veilleux? Will the Canadien entering his second-year battle just Drew Allar and Beau Pribula or is a transfer incoming? Time will tell.
