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Penn State roster and staff update: 4 Lions have a new number, and a letterman has a new title

Greg Pickelby: Greg Pickel07/25/25GregPickel
Malachi Goodman Penn State Football On3

Four Penn State football players will start camp next week with new numbers. The Nittany Lions’ updated online roster and directory indicate both that and a new job title for a letterman, although it’s one he’s undoubtedly had internally for quite some time.

Let’s start with the jersey changes. After going through spring ball wearing No. 11, USC transfer Kyron Hudson has now changed to No. 1. He’s the first Lions receiver to wear it since KeAndre Lambert-Smith. Hudson is part of a significant transfer portal haul that Penn State hopes will enhance its passing attack this fall.

“We went out into the transfer portal and brought in three really productive players in [Trebor] Pena from Syracuse, who was a captain, in [Kyron] Hudson from USC, who was a captain, and then when you talk about Ross, Devonte Ross, who made a bunch of big plays and had a ton of production at Troy,” head coach James Franklin said at Big Ten Medai Days. “For me, I’ve got a lot of respect for the University of Iowa and how they play defense and special teams, and being able to watch Troy and this young man have a lot of success.”

With Hudson vacating No. 11, freshman receiver Lyrick Samuel is changing his jersey from No. 81 to No. 11.

The other number changes come up front. Standout Class of 2025 signee Malachi Goodman is moving his jersey number from No. 75 to No. 78. And, redshirt junior blocker Ian Harvie goes from No. 58 to No. 54.

To recap:

WR Kyron Hudson: No. 11 ➡️ No. 1
WR Lyrick Samuel: No. 81 ➡️ No. 11
OL Malachi Goodman: No. 75 ➡️ No. 78
OL Ian Harvie: No. 58 ➡️ No. 54

Lions247 first spotted the roster update.

Which Penn State staffer has a new title?

Penn State brought multi-time All-Big Ten honoree and letterman Jordan Lucas back to its staff last offseason. The former cornerback was listed as a graduate assistant in 2024. Now, however, his title is assistant cornerbacks coach. That doesn’t mean he wasn’t essentially that already, of course. But, it now reads that way in the online directory.

Lucas is one of the many assistants who make up James Franklin’s 12th staff in State College.

“This is the best combined personnel that I think we’ve had at Penn State, and when I talk about personnel, I’m talking about players and staff, from a depth, from a talent standpoint, and from an experience standpoint,” Franklin said earlier this week. “So we’re very excited about that.”

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