Penn State football transfer portal tracker: Latest news, developments

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Penn State football will rebuild its roster like never before through the NCAA transfer portal.

The Nittany Lions and new head coach Matt Campbell must first replace an inordinate number of juniors and seniors leaving for the NFL.

They then must account for one of the most depleted recruiting classes in memory.

And they also are losing a significant number of underclassmen because of the recent program turmoil, particularly the ongoing coaching transition ― firing James Franklin in October and hiring Campbell 54 days later.

The transfer portal is an online database of athletes who have submitted requests to find a new program. Players can now come and go through this one-and-only, two-week transfer period (Jan. 2 through Jan. 16).

All transfers are eligible to play immediately, and graduates can transfer at any time. Players are allowed an unlimited number of transfers throughout their college careers. 

The Nittany Lions received significant transfer portal contributions this past season, including from linebacker Amare Campbell, safety King Mack and wide receivers Trebor Pena and Devonte Ross.

Here’s who’s coming and going for Penn State, the latest projections and announcements at the top of the list.

Penn State football players leaving via transfer portal

Xavier Gilliam, defensive tackle

Redshirt freshman Xavier Gilliam, a projected starter at defensive tackle in 2026, plans to enter the portal, which will be open Jan. 2 through Jan. 16, according to national reports, including On.3, Dec. 31.

Gilliam (6-foot-2, 300 pounds) was a three-star high school recruit out of Gaithersburg, Maryland. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining. He’s reportedly one of the strongest members of the team and should be highly pursued in the transfer market.

He started but did not register any statistics in Penn State’s 22-10 Pinstripe Bowl victory over Clemson on Dec. 27.

Kaden Saunders, receiver

Oft-injured receiver Kaden Saunders, a redshirt junior, plans to enter the transfer portal this week, according to reports like On.3.

Saunders, a former prestigious four-star recruit, missed most of the 2024 season and all of 2025 due to undisclosed injuries. He logged 17 career receptions for 113 yards

Bekkem Kritza, quarterback

Freshman quarterback Bekkem Kritza will enter transfer portal this week before ever playing a down for the Nittany Lions, according to Dec. 30 reports, such as CBS Sports.

Kritza (6-foot-5, 200 pounds) was one of the top high school quarterback recruits in Florida in the 2025 recruiting class. However, he dealt with unspecified injury issues during his one and only year in State College and was listed as “out” for all but three of PSU’s 13 games.

Kritza was well-traveled during his high school career, moving between schools in Colorado, California and Florida.

Keon Wylie, linebacker

Redshirt junior linebacker Keon Wylie, a key backup over the second half of 2025, will enter the transfer portal, according to a Dec. 29 report.

Wylie made 28 tackles over 13 games in 2025, including 2.5 for loss and a sack. He also was credited with three quarterback pressures.

Anthony Ivey, wide receiver

Redshirt junior Anthony Ivey, a little-used backup receiver, will enter the transfer portal, according to a Dec. 29 report.

Ivey, a former four-star recruit from Lancaster, Pa., made just one reception during his PSU career — a 15-yard catch vs. Kent State during the 2024 season.

Daniel Jennings, defensive end

Freshman defensive lineman Daniel Jennings plans to enter the transfer portal, according to Dec. 24 reports, including 247Sports.

The four-star recruit from West Virginia re-classified from the 2026 cycle to join Penn State last spring. He did not see any playing time this past fall.

Jennings is the second edge rusher the Lions are expected to lose to the transfer portal, following Chaz Coleman.

Kari Jackson, linebacker

Backup linebacker Kari Jackson announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 23.

The redshirt freshman from Michigan did not record any statistics this past season. Injury issues cost him his senior season of high school and also hampered him this past fall.

AJ Harris, cornerback

The junior cornerback is no longer on the Penn State roster, as of Dec. 22, and is expected to enter the transfer portal, according to reports, including Blue-White Illustrated.

This will be the second transfer for the former five-star recruit, who left Georgia for Penn State in 2024. He earned All-Big Ten honorable mention this past season after making 33 tackles with just one pass breakup and a fumble recovery. He earned third-team all-conference honors in 2024.

Alex Birchmeier, offensive lineman

Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Alex Birchmeier is the fourth Nittany Lion expected to enter the transfer portal next month. The 6-foot-5, 312-pound backup announced his intentions on Dec. 19

Birchmeier played very limited minutes in 26 games during his three seasons at Penn State. He will not participate in the Pinstripe Bowl.

He certainly was a big-time recruit, though. He was the No. 1-rated high school player in Virginia, the nation’s No. 2 interior offensive lineman and the No. 54 overall prospect, according to 247Sports.

Chaz Coleman, defensive end

Defensive end Chaz Coleman announced his plans to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 18, a few weeks after concluding a most promising true freshman season. Though he battled with injuries, Coleman showed impressive flashes of pass rushing dominance and high-level athleticism.

The Warren, Ohio, native recorded eight total tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in nine games.

The former four-star recruit figures to be a hot commodity on the transfer market, starting with his home state Ohio State Buckeyes.

Elliot Washington, cornerback

Junior cornerback Elliot Washington plans to enter the NCAA Transfer portal, CBS Sports and other outlets reported on Dec. 11. As a backup in 2025, Washington made 18 tackles and defended four pass defenses with an interception. He was a key reserve for three seasons.

Joey Schlaffer, tight end

Redshirt sophomore tight end Joey Schlaffer left the team in early November and expects to enter the transfer portal. He was the team’s first departure after head coach James Franklin was fired in mid-October.

Schlaffer appeared in just three games this past season. He made his only college catch and touchdown in the blowout victory over Villanova on Sept. 13, a 19-yard pass play from quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer.

Penn State football player joining via transfer portal

This section will be updated once announcements are made.

Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at  fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Penn State football transfer portal tracker: Latest news, developments

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