How Penn State's Outbound Transfers Are Faring in the Transfer Portal

Former Nittany Lions have been popular in the portal, particularly at Virginia Tech and Tennessee.

Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer (17) and teammates celebrate with the George M. Steinbrenner Trophy after defeating the Clemson Tigers in the 2025 Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Fifty Penn State football players have entered the NCAA Transfer Portal since it opened Jan. 2, representing nearly half of the team's 2025 roster. New coach Matt Campbell is building an almost entirely new roster, leaning on his former players at Iowa State while targeting talent from across the country.

But where are the former Nittany Lions headed? So far, two teams have attracted the most Penn State talent. As the transfer portal window draws to a close, here's the watch list regarding the former Nittany Lions.

RELATED: Meet the eighth-year defensive lineman transferring to Penn State

Virginia Tech, Tennessee lead portal destinations

Virginia Tech Hokies football coach James Franklin speaks to fans on the sideline before the game at Lane Stadium. | Brian Bishop-Imagn Images

James Franklin always was going to make Virginia Tech a transfer destination for Penn State players. So far, 12 Nittany Lions are reuniting with Franklin in Blacksburg, including several freshmen, notably defensive lineman Cortez Harris and offensive lineman Michael Troutman II.

Franklin's biggest signings involved offense. Former Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer will take the reins at Virginia Tech. Grunkemeyer closed his Penn State career with a superb performance in the Pinstripe Bowl, after whch he sounded uncertain about his future.

Go Hokies! pic.twitter.com/E0UyTvkpK5

— Ethan Grunkemeyer (@e_grunkemeyer) January 14, 2026

Another major signing for Franklin was former 5-star tight end Luke Reynolds, who earned a starting role last season. Reynolds had an uneven sophomore year at Penn State but certainly is capable of a turnaround at Virginia Tech.

Tennessee coach Josh Huepel has given Franklin some competition. The Volunteers have plucked four Penn State players from the portal, including two of its top targets. Heupel also hired two coaches off the staff: defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and co-coordinator Anthony Poindexter.

Freshman defensive end Chaz Coleman surprised many with his Tennessee decision. An Ohio native who was heavliy recruited by the Buckeyes late in the cycle, Coleman instead signed with the Volunteers to play for Knowles once again. During his one season at Penn State, Knowles quickly became a fan of Coleman, nicknaming him the "Chazmanian Devil" for his relentless pursuit in the pass rush.

Coleman is the fifth-ranked player in the transfer portal, according to 247Sports, and the No. 1 edge rusher. Pro Football Focus graded Coleman as the top freshman defensive end in the country last season.

Linebacker Amare Campbell, who transferred from North Carolina to Penn State last season, became the Nittany Lions' top portal addition in 2025. He started every game at middle linebacker, led the team in tackles and anchored a Knowles defense that several players and coaches called "complicated."

Upon entering the portal, Campbell posted a statement on social media that seemed to indicate he did not want to leave Penn State. However, the linebacker said that he found himself "in a situation where I can't allow myself to be undervalued."

Tennessee also landed two other potential starters in defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam and safety Dejuan Lane.

Told yall .. Let’s do it Rocky Top 🍊 https://t.co/Jt62H1cjcp

— Amare🐐 (@amareGcampbell) January 10, 2026

Penn State's noteworthy transfers

pic.twitter.com/7TfzqlBebR

— Andrew Olesh (@a_olesh8) January 11, 2026

Freshman tight end Andrew Olesh is headed to Oregon after spending one season at Penn State. The former 5-star recruit had flipped from Michigan to Penn State the day before the 2024 Big Ten Championship Game. Oregon was among his recruiting finalists.

Cornerback AJ Harris, a two-year starter at Penn State, is headed to Indiana for his final season. Harris led Penn State with seven solo tackles when the Nittany Lions played Indiana in November.

Defensive end Zuriah Fisher will play his seventh season of college football at USC. Fisher spent six years at Penn State, missing most of two with an injury. He started 11 games for the Nittany Lions this past season.

Three former Nittany Lions are headed to Temple, led by quarterback Jaxon Smolik. The redshirt sophomore had injury issues at Penn State, missing the second half of this season with an injury he sustained in the Iowa game. Smolik, who is from Iowa, could face the Nittany Lions on Sept. 12 at Lincoln Financial Field.

Two offensive linemen are joining former Penn State line coach Phil Trautwein at Florida: redshirt sophomore T.J. Shanahan Jr. and redshirt freshman Eagan Boyer.

Safety King Mack will play for his third school, North Carolina State, next season, Mack began his career at Penn State, played for Alabama in 2024 and returned to the Nittany Lions in 2025.

HOME📍@Temple_FB pic.twitter.com/C7l6CoC5R6

— Jaxon Smolik (@JaxonSmolik) January 10, 2026

The Penn State transfer tracker

Player	Position	Year	New School
Chaz Coleman	Defensive end	Freshman	Tennessee
Zuriah Fisher	Defensive end	Sixth-year senior	USC
Jaylen Harvey	Defensive end	Redshirt freshman	North Carolina
Daniel Jennings	Defensive end	Freshman	Virginia Tech
Cortez Harris	Defensive end	Freshman	Virginia Tech
Mylachi Williams	Defensive end	Redshirt freshman	Virginia Tech
Enai White	Defensive end	Redshrt junior
Xavier Gilliam	Defensive tackle	Redshirt freshman	Tennessee
Sam Siafa	Defensive tackle	Redshirt junior
Owen Wafle	Defensive tackle	Redshirt freshman	Duke
Kaleb Artis	Defensive tackle	Redshirt junior	Temple
Randy Adirika	Defensive tackle	Freshman	Virginia Tech
King Mack	Safety	Junior	North Carolina State
Dejuan Lane	Safety	Sophomore	Tennessee
Lamont Payne Jr.	Safety	Redshirt sophomore
Kolin Dinkins	Safety	Redshirt junior	Temple
Braz Thomas	Safety	Freshman
Antonio Belgrave-Shorter	Safety	Redshirt freshman	Arizona State
A.J. Harris	Cornerback	Junior	Indiana
Karson Kiesewetter	Cornerback	Redshirt sophomore
Elliot Washington II	Cornerback	Junior	Clemson
Kenny Woseley Jr.	Cornerback	Redshirt freshman	Virginia Tech
Amare Campbell	Linebacker	Junior	Tennessee
Keon Wylie	Linebacker	Redshirt junior	Virginia Tech
Anthony Speca	Linebacker	Redshirt freshman	Purdue
Kari Jackson	Linebacker	Redshirt freshman
DaKaari Nelson	Linebacker	Redshirt sophomore
Ethan Grunkemeyer	Quarterback	Redshirt freshman	Virginia Tech
Jaxon Smolik	Quarterback	Redshirt sophomore	Temple
Bekkem Kritza	Quarterback	Freshman
Tikey Hayes	Running back	Freshman
Corey Smith	Running back	Redshirt freshman
Jabree Coleman	Running back	Freshman	South Carolina
Luke Reynolds	Tight end	Sophomore	Virginia Tech
Joey Schlaffer	Tight end	Redshirt sophomore	Temple
Andrew Olesh	Tight end	Freshman	Oregon
Matt Henderson	Tight end	Freshman	Virginia Tech
Anthony Ivey	Wide receiver	Redshirt junior
Kaden Saunders	Wide receiver	Redshirt junior	Southern Miss
Aaron Enterline	Wide receiver	Redshirt freshman	Towson
Jeff Exinor Jr.	Wide receiver	Freshman	Virginia Tech
Josiah Brown	Wide receiver	Redshirt freshman
Matt Outten	Wide receiver	Freshman	Syracuse
Tyseer Denmark	Wide receiver	Redshirt freshman	Virginia Tech
TJ Shanahan Jr.	Offensive lineman	Redshirt sophomore	Florida
Alex Birchmeier	Offensive lineman	Redshirt sophomore	Liberty
J'Ven Williams	Offensive lineman	Redshirt sophomore	Charlotte
Eagan Boyer	Offensive lineman	Redshirt freshman	Florida
Brady O'Hara	Offensive lineman	Freshman
Michael Troutman III	Offensive lineman	Freshman	Virginia Tech

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