Four more Iowa State players transferring to Penn State, reports say
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Four more Iowa State football players are transferring to Penn State, increasing the number of Cyclones headed to State College to 18, according to reports Monday.
Wide receiver Chase Sowell, safeties Jamison Patton and Hunter Sowell and defensive lineman Alijah Carnell reportedly all have committed to reunite with Penn State’s Matt Campbell, their former coach at Iowa State.
Redshirt junior Chase Sowell caught 32 passes for 500 yards and two touchdowns in 2025. Penn State will be his fourth school after he began his career at Colorado, transferred to East Carolina and then Iowa State. He has one year of eligibility left.
Patton, a junior, had 48 tackles, one in the backfield, two interceptions and three pass breakups in 2025. He also has one year of eligibility remaining.
Carnell played in 11 games as a reserve and had six tackles and one quarterback hurry. He has three years of eligibility left.
Hunter Sowell, Chase’s younger brother, was a true freshman in 2025 who retained four years of eligibility.
In addition, reports surfaced Sunday night that Northwestern defensive line coach Christian Smith will join Penn State’s staff in an unspecified role.
Smith played defensive end for Campbell at Toledo and then served as a graduate assistant for him at Toledo and Iowa State.
On Monday, a Penn State spokesman confirmed that Terry Smith will be associate head coach and cornerbacks coach for Campbell, the same role he held under James Franklin from 2014 until Franklin was fired in October.
Smith was named interim head coach and led the Nittany Lions to a 4-3 record in their final seven games.
Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer reportedly has committed to Virginia Tech and Franklin after he placed his name in the transfer portal. Grunkemeyer started the final seven games and completed 69.1% of his passes in 2025 for 1,339 yards and eight touchdowns with four interceptions.
Penn State junior cornerback Elliot Washington II confirmed Monday on social media that he’s transferring to Clemson. Washington played in 12 games in 2025 and had 18 tackles, one interception and three pass breakups.
As of 3 p.m. Monday, 39 Penn State players reportedly have put their names in the transfer portal and 31 have indicated they plan to stay with the Lions.
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