Projecting Who's Staying and Who's Leaving from Penn State After Bowl Game

The book on the 2025 college football season has finally, mercifully closed for Penn State after a 22-10 win against Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl.

Heading into the campaign, the Nittany Lions ranked No. 2 in the country. They boasted a veteran roster led by seniors who passed up entering the NFL draft last offseason to lead a championship charge this year.

Penn State rolled to a 3-0 start, but an overtime loss to Oregon and shocking upsets against UCLA and Northwestern upended the program, which fired head coach James Franklin following that third setback.

Ultimately, the Nittany Lions went 7-6 in 2025 and face a challenging offseason full of transition under new coach Matt Campbell.

Who's Staying

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Amare Campbell

QB Ethan Grunkemeyer*

Throw the asterisk on here, given the obvious connection of Matt Campbell and longtime Iowa State starter Rocco Becht. Until or unless someone else transfers in, though, Ethan Grunkmeyer has a straightforward path to retaining the QB1 job. He stepped in for PSU after Drew Allar's season-ending ankle injury and will be a redshirt sophomore next season.

Defense's Top Tackler

At each level of the defense, the Nittany Lions are rebuilding. Hopefully, though, the return of middle linebacker Amare Campbell can provide some stability. The transfer from North Carolina provided a great impact in 2025, leading Penn State in tackles and being disruptive behind the line of scrimmage, too.

Interim Coach Terry Smith

Although the lobbying for Terry Smith to receive the permanent nod didn't pan out, some players are getting their wish in a different way. The beloved assistant is sticking around as a member of Campbell's staff. Smith will be an integral piece in player retention for the Nittany Lions this offseason.

Who's Leaving

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Dani Dennis-Sutton

Basically Everyone on Offense

After such a disappointing year, change may be a positive. Still, the list of departures from the Penn State's offense is massive: quarterback Drew Allar, running backs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton, wideouts Trebor Pena, Devonte Ross and Kyron Hudson, tight end Khalil Dinkins and offensive linemen Drew Shelton, Vega Ioane, Nick Dawkins and Nolan Rucci.

Core Defenders

On the opposite side of the ball, gone are star disruptor Dani Dennis-Sutton and key defensive tackle Zane Durant. Two more key tacklers, linebacker Dom DeLuca and safety Zakee Wheatley, are also out of eligibility. And that's not all, either.

Outgoing Transfers

Among the Penn State players who have announced their intention to transfer are three defensive contributors: edge-rusher Zuriah Fisher and cornerbacks AJ Harris and Eliot Washington Jr. Throw in promising edge Chaz Coleman, and the Nittany Lions have a few more vacancies to address.

Who's on the Way

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Matt Campbell

New Head Coach Matt Campbell

I would not be quick to applaud the coaching search, considering that PSU was the first marquee job to open and among the last to get filled. The bright side, though, is the university landed on Matt Campbell. He might not work out! But he's an experienced, physical-minded coach who fits the identity of Penn State.

So, So Many Transfers

As of this writing, the portal hasn't officially opened. No player has formally committed to Penn State. Once the calendar hits Jan. 2, however, Campbell and his staff will be landing at least a couple dozen transfers—likely including a chunk of players from Iowa State who want to follow Campbell.

Some Recruits, Probably!

Franklin's dismissal (and subsequent hiring at Virginia Tech) plus the delayed timing of Campbell's arrival put Penn State in a shocking spot during the early signing window. In short, the Nittany Lions added two—two!—high schoolers. That number will continue to grow as February's signing period nears.