Matt Campbell faces massive Penn State roster overhaul: 17 of 22 starters may not return in 2026
Matt Campbell begins his Penn State tenure facing a massive roster overhaul, with up to 17 of 22 starters potentially gone in 2026, forcing an aggressive rebuild through the NFL Draft and transfer portal.
Penn State head coach Matt Campbell inherited more than a roster when he arrived in Happy Valley on December 8—he inherited a countdown. The Nittany Lions face one of the most dramatic roster transformations in recent program history, with as many as 17 of 22 starters potentially departing through the NFL Draft, graduation, and transfer portal.
The rebuild is already underway. Four players have opted out of the Pinstripe Bowl, cornerback Elliot Washington II has announced his intent to enter the transfer portal, and double-digit portal departures are expected as Campbell navigates his first offseason.
Penn State NFL Draft departures
Multiple Penn State contributors are headed to the NFL, with some already functionally finished with their college careers.
Confirmed NFL-Bound Players
Dani Dennis-Sutton (Defensive End): The 6-5, 265-pound edge rusher has accepted a Senior Bowl invite and carries Day 2 projections. Mel Kiper Jr. ranks him as the sixth defensive end in the 2025 NFL Draft class. His college career is complete.
Kaytron Allen (Running Back): Allen finally delivered on his recruiting hype with career-high numbers across the board—1,303 rushing yards, 15 touchdowns, and 6.2 yards per carry. He’s Senior Bowl-bound and currently ranks sixth among running backs on Kiper’s draft board.
Players with NFL Draft decisions pending
A.J. Harris (Safety): Once viewed as a future first-round pick, Harris’s 2025 season stalled with one pass breakup, no interceptions, and a midseason benching. Freshman Daryus Dixson started taking his snaps, though Harris still grades well nationally. Another year could help his stock, but with program changes underway, an NFL departure wouldn’t be surprising.
Zion Tracy (Nickel Defender): Tracy still has eligibility remaining, but his role as a high-snap nickel defender makes him both portal-and-draft adjacent.
Offensive line exodus
Penn State’s offensive line faces complete reconstruction:
- Olu Ioane: Already opted out of the Pinstripe Bowl
- Drew Shelton: At draft/eligibility crossroads
- Nick Dawkins: Weighing options
- Anthony Donkoh: The only lineman who could potentially return
- Nolan Rucci: Facing draft decision
Phil Trautwein’s departure as offensive line coach creates additional uncertainty and opens the door for movement.
Transfer Portal departures and retention battles
Penn State honored 34 seniors on Senior Day. While the actual exit number will be smaller, double-digit transfer portal departures are expected even after retaining offensive coordinator Terry Smith.
Key Portal risk players
Blue-Chip Offensive Tackles:
- Malachi Goodman: Crown jewel of the 2025 recruiting class
- J’ven Williams: Lone five-star from the 2023 class
Both elite tackles will have numerous options if they explore the transfer portal.
Ethan Grunkemeyer (Quarterback): Smith called him “the future of the position,” and his late-season performance supported that assessment. Over his final three games, Grunkemeyer completed 78.3 percent of his passes with four touchdowns and zero interceptions. However, the Campbell factor complicates his situation—Iowa State transfer Rocco Becht knows Campbell’s offensive system, and Grunkemeyer will not lack suitors if he explores other options.
Critical retention targets
Penn State’s retention priorities are clear for preventing complete roster collapse:
- Andrew Rappleyea (Tight End)
- Luke Reynolds (Tight End)
- Amare Campbell (Linebacker)
- King Mack (Safety)
- Audavion Collins (Cornerback)
- Ryan Barker (Kicker)
These players represent the foundation that keeps the floor from dropping out entirely.
Pinstripe Bowl opt-outs
Four Penn State players have opted out of the Pinstripe Bowl, with cornerback Elliot Washington II publicly announcing transfer portal intentions.
The scale of Matt Campbell’s rebuild challenge
The numbers paint a sobering picture of Campbell’s Year 1 challenge:
- 6-8 starters lost to NFL Draft alone
- Three-fifths of the offensive line departing
- Multiple defensive linemen leaving
- Graduating receivers creating additional holes
- Starting tight end position uncertain
- Up to 17 of 22 starters may not return in 2026
Portal addition requirements
Campbell may need 35 to 40 transfer portal additions to stabilize the 2026 roster. This represents a dramatic departure from his Iowa State approach, where portal classes typically ranked in the 80s nationally as he built slowly and patiently.
Penn State won’t allow that timeline.
Resources and expectations at Penn State
Athletic Director Pat Kraft has signaled the difference between Campbell’s Iowa State tenure and his Penn State reality: approximately $30 million earmarked for the 2026 roster. These are resources Campbell never had in Ames and expectations he’s never faced.
What Campbell’s first year will look like
Campbell still wants to recruit and develop long-term, but Year 1 at Penn State is about survival and structure. The goal is creating a functional roster that can compete while building the foundation underneath it.
This rebuild will be messy, loud, and uncomfortable—but it’s also the necessary step Penn State avoided for too long. The roster is changing because the program is changing. Campbell didn’t arrive to preserve what was left. He came to rebuild properly.
January 2 approaches fast, and the decisions made in the coming weeks will determine how quickly Campbell’s vision becomes reality in Happy Valley.
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