The Nittany Lions aren’t reinventing their roster through the portal. But coach James Franklin is making targeted moves.
The NCAA Transfer Portal’s spring window closed April 25, though the maneuvering is far from over. Penn State continues to pursue talent from the portal as the 2025 season draws closer. As usual, the Nittany Lions weren’t overly active in the portal during the spring window, which is how James Franklin prefers to operate.
Still, the Nittany Lions lost several players and have onboarded one (so far) from the spring portal window. And they’re likely not finished. Here’s a look at where Penn State football stands in the transfer portal.
4.5 sacks that season.
“Mo and I have a special relationship,” Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said after the Scarlet Knights’ spring game. “I love the guy, but he’s gone another direction.”
Penn State’s key losses of the spring portal window
Of the five Penn State players who entered the portal during the spring window, the biggest losses came at linebacker and offensive guard. Redshirt sophomore linebacker Ta’Mere Robinson already has announced his transfer to USC.
After the Blue-White Game, Franklin said that the team had lost a linebacker “we did not anticipate losing,” a clear reference to Robinson. As a result, Franklin made his pitch to linebacker prospects in the portal.
Sixth-year guard JB Nelson was the other key loss. Nelson played guard and tackle for the Nittany Lions, started eight games in 2023 and rotated significantly on the line in 2024. He would have been a key player on the line for this season. Instead, Nelson is headed to Kansas State for his final season
Penn State’s key pickup of the spring window
In fact, he is Penn State’s only inbound transfer of the spring window so far. Former Syracuse receiver Trebor Pena, who led the ACC with 84 receptions this season, announced his transfer decision just before Blue-White kickoff. Pena is the third receiver to transfer to Penn State during the offseason, as the Nittany Lions replace the three receivers (including former starters Harrison Wallace III and Omari Evans) who entered the portal.
Pena likely projects as a slot receiver in Penn State’s offense, giving quarterback Drew Allar a reliable target who can catch at volume. Pena also returned punts, averaging 8 yards per attempt for the Orange last season.
Penn State’s transfer portal surprise
The Nittany Lions finished spring practice with six scholarship running backs, the same number with which they began. One more running back, Jabree Wallace-Coleman from Philadelphia’s Imhotep Charter, is scheduled to enroll this summer. If nothing else changes, Penn State will begin training camp for the 2025 season with seven scholarship running backs.
Franklin likes depth at the position and plans to play three running backs, but the position room nevertheless is crowded. Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen will share 90 percent of the carries, with the No. 3 back rotating situationally. New Penn State running backs coach Stan Drayton must have made a strong impression, because that’s an impressive retention rate.
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