What We Learned About Penn State on Day 7 of the Transfer Portal

Penn State's top-ranked transfer portal class Thursday added four more players, including a defensive tackle playing his eighth year of college football, as coach Matt Campbell continues remaking the Nittany Lions roster. Penn State has been among the busiest teams in the portal, bringing in 28 players to rank behind only Oklahoma State and Iowa State (31 each as of Thursday night).

The Nittany Lions also lost another wide receiver, their seventh to the portal, making the position a priority of the window's final week. Before getting to the Day 7 recap, check out Penn State's moves on Day 6, Day 5 and Day 4.

Penn State's updated portal numbers

A general view of Beaver Stadium prior to the game between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Penn State Nittany Lions. | Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

49: Penn State players transferring out

28: Players transferring in

20: Iowa State players transferring in

7: Penn State wide receivers in the portal

1: Penn State's transfer class ranking, according to 247Sports

Penn State welcomes eighth-year tackle from UCLA

UCLA Bruins defensive lineman Siale Taupaki (92) during the first quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Rose Bowl. | Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

Siale Taupaki enrolled at UCLA in June 2019, the same year NFL players Joey Porter Jr., Adisa Isaac, Jaquan Brisker and Brenton Strange enrolled at Penn State. Next year, Taupaki will play his eighth year of college football.

Taupaki did not play during two of his first three seasons at UCLA (redshirting in 2019 and taking a medical redshirt in 2021), meaning he used his first season of eligiility in 2022. Having played in just two games this season, Taupaki is playing this year, his eighth in college football, on an NCAA waiver.

Taupaki (6-4, 310 pounds) played both offensive and defensive line at UCLA. He moved permanently to defensive tackle in 2024, making 38 tackles over the past two seasons. Taupaki started one game on the defensive line, vs. Indiana, last season. He might become a Penn State favorite quickly.

pic.twitter.com/bik3yC9gwQ
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) October 11, 2025

The Nittany Lions also received a commitment from Boston College safety Omarion Davis, who just completed his freshman season. Davis (5-11, 188 pounds) started two games and played in 12 for the Eagles. He produced a season-high six tackles in his first start against Clemson.

Penn State adds defensive tackle from Utah

Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt is chased by Utah Utes defensive tackle Dallas Vakalahi. — Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) is chased by Utah Utes safety Alaka'i Gilman (11) and defensive tackle Dallas Vakalahi (98). | Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Having lost seven defensive tackles, including five to the transfer portal, Penn State needs interior linemen. Utah's Dallas Vakalahi (6-2, 318 pounds) brings size to a defensive line looking for more of it under coordinator D'Anton Lynn.

Vakalahi, who has two seasons of eligibility, played in nine games for the Utes, making 11 tackles, including a season-high three against Kansas State. He led Utah's true freshmen with 16 tackles in 2024. Vakalahi, a Utah native who was a 3-star prospect in high school, is the fourth defensive tackle to commit to Penn State through the portal.

The Nittany Lions also received a commitment from offensive lineman Hunter Albright, who heads to Penn State after one season at Saint Francis, which is reclassifying to Division III. Albright, who arrives as a walk-on, played high school football at Hollidaysburg.

Major turnover at receiver

Iowa State Cyclones' wide receiver Chase Sowell reacts after making a catch against Kansas during the third quarter. | Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Freshman Matt Outten on Thursday became the seventh Penn State wide receiver to enter the portal. With four others exhausting their eligibility, including all three starters, Campbell and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser have a rebuild at the position.

That makes the Iowa State signees critically important. Campbell is bringing four Iowa State receivers to Penn State, including the team's top three pass-catchers last season. Chief among them are Brett Eskildsen (30 catches, 526 yards) and Chase Sowell (32 catches, 500 yards).

Penn State isn't finished at the position. According to 247Sports, the Nittany Lions are pursuing multiple portal receivers, including Ohio State's Quincy Porter, a former 5-star recruit who is among the top-10 receivers in the portal.

This will be a fascinating test of Penn State's spending strategy: Will Campbell prioritize a true No. 1 receiver in the portal or spread money across multiple position groups in the roster rebuild?

Staying and going

Outten headlines Thursday's departure list, along with freshman offensive lineman Michael Troutman III. Offensive lineman Celeb Brewer announced that he will remain with the program. Brewer, a redshirt freshman, has yet to play for the Nittany Lions. He was a 3-star prospect at Wyomissing (Pa.) High and a top-15 player in Pennsylvania in the 2024 recruiting class.

Penn State has been fairly successful in retaining young offensive linemen, with Brewer joining Cooper Cousins, Garrett Sexton and Malachi Goodman.

James Franklin continues recruiting Penn State

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

Virginia Tech coach James Franklin brought more than 10 coaches and staff members with him from Penn State, including offensive coordinator Ty Howle and quarterbacks coach Danny O'Brien. He flipped 10 recruits from Penn State's 2026 class and now is working on the portal contingent, with six Nittany Lions currently set to follow Franlkin to Virginia Tech.

Franklin's most important signing would be former Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, who has yet to announce his decision but is expected to choose the Hokies. Franklin also is expected to sign former Penn State tight end Luke Reynolds, whom Franklin signed at Penn State as a 5-star prospect in 2024.

Four confirmed Nittany Lions headed to Blacksburg are tight end Matt Henderson, receiver Jeff Exinor Jr., defensive end Daniel Jennings and linebacker Keon Wylie.

Elsewhere, former Penn State safety King Mack found a new home quickly, committing to North Carolina State. Mack began his career at Penn State in 2023, played at Alabama in 2024, returned to Penn State in 2025 and is headed to North Carolina State for 2026.

What happens next for Penn State? Stay on top of all the Nittany Lions news by subscribing to the Penn State on SI Daily Digest. The newsletter is your free daily window into Penn State sports.