Hold onto your seats, Penn State fans, because the Nittany Lions' 2026 roster is shaping up to be one wild ride! With new head coach Matt Campbell at the helm and the NCAA Transfer Portal in full swing, the team's lineup is undergoing a dramatic transformation. But here's where it gets controversial: as players come and go at a dizzying pace, predicting the final roster feels like trying to solve a puzzle with constantly shifting pieces. And this is the part most people miss—understanding the delicate balance between returning veterans, fresh recruits, and unexpected departures.
At Lions247, we're breaking it all down for you, position by position, to make sense of the chaos. This isn't just a snapshot; it's a living, breathing projection that we'll update regularly as the situation evolves. (Check out the Jan. 9 version for the latest details.)
The hiring of Matt Campbell, coupled with the revamped NCAA Transfer Portal window, has turned this offseason into a whirlwind of activity. Add the upcoming late signing period for high school prospects, and you've got a recipe for madness. That's why we're stepping in to bring some clarity to the frenzy with our comprehensive, position-by-position analysis of Penn State's 2026 roster.
Here’s the playbook: We're evaluating the team based on three critical factors:
- Who's Back: These are the familiar faces from the 2025 season who've confirmed their return or are listed on the winter roster.
- Who's New: This includes players joining via the Transfer Portal and high school recruits committing to Penn State.
- Who's Gone: Players who've exhausted eligibility, entered the NFL Draft, transferred, or retired from the sport.
This breakdown will give you a clear picture of the talent Coach Campbell has at his disposal—and where the team might still need reinforcements. Keep in mind, this is a fluid situation, and we'll be tweaking our projections as updates roll in. The numbers should stabilize after the portal closes on Jan. 17, and we'll gain more insight into how walk-ons factor into the new 105-man roster.
A quick note: This roster isn’t set in stone for spring practice. Some players won’t arrive until after the spring semester, and we’ll tackle that in a future article.
For now, here’s how we’re organizing the data: Players are listed numerically where uniform numbers are available, or by college experience (most to least). New additions are divided into portal transfers and high school recruits, while departures are categorized by reason—NFL Draft, eligibility, retirement, or transfer.
As of Jan. 9, here’s the projected breakdown for Penn State's 2026 roster:
PENN STATE PROJECTED 2026 ROSTER (95)
- Overall: 95
- Offense: 45
- Defense: 45
- Special Teams: 5
- Scholarship Players: 80
- Walk-ons: 15
CENTER (1)
Back:
- 52 Dominic Rulli, R-SR
New: None
Gone:
- 53 Nick Dawkins — Eligibility
CORNERBACK (12)
Back:
- 2 Audavion Collins, R-SR
- 5 Daryus Dixson, SO
- 7 Zion Tracy, JR
- 12 Xxavier Thomas, R-FR
- 15 Joshua Johnson, R-FR
- 16 Donte Nastasi, R-JR (Walk-on)
- 23 Jahmir Joseph, SO
- 35 Tyler Armstead, R-FR (Walk-on)
- 37 Max Heffner, R-FR (Walk-on)
New:
- TBA Ibn McDaniels, R-SO (Transfer from Syracuse)
- TBA Tyrell Chatman, FR (Commit)
- TBA Josiah Zayas, FR (Commit)
Gone:
- 4 AJ Harris — Transfer
- 9 Elliot Washington — Transfer (Clemson)
- 17 Kenny Woseley — Transfer
KICKER (2)
Back:
- 14 Ryan Barker, R-JR
- 98 Matthew Parker, R-FR (Walk-on)
New: None
Gone: None
The Big Question: With so much turnover, will Coach Campbell's vision for the team align with the roster he inherits? And how will these changes impact Penn State's performance in 2026? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—do you think this roster has what it takes to compete at the highest level, or are there glaring weaknesses that need addressing?
