With the transfer portal existing and every player on the Penn State football roster having been brought there by James Franklin, people are going to leave as a result of Franklinโs firing.
The good news is that, the transfer portal allows for bad programs to become good (Indiana) and good programs to stay there or improve.
Penn State hasnโt been a good program in 2025, but since it won 13 games and almost made the national title game a year ago, itโs safe to say the team isnโt looking to rebuild.
Getting players out of the transfer portal is important, and so is keeping players from entering it.
This article will focus on the latter.
TONY ROJAS
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now
The loss of Rojas to a season-ending injury isnโt the main reason for Penn Stateโs downfall, but the fact is that the teamโs downward spiral started days after it happened. In Penn Stateโs losses to UCLA, Northwestern and Iowa, the defense either didnโt show up (UCLA) or failed to close out a fourth-quarter lead (Northwestern, Iowa). Linebacker depth has been a concern for Penn State DC Jim Knowles all season, and the loss of Rojas has led to problems at that position.
Regardless of who the new coach is, Penn State football wonโt be looking to start a rebuild in 2026. So keeping veterans like Rojas, who will be entering his fourth season, is important.
AMARE CAMPBELL
Before Rojas got injured, he and Campbell were becoming among Americaโs best linebacker duos. A silver lining to Penn Stateโs double overtime loss to Oregon was Campbell, who ended the night with 15 tackles. The next week, Campbell was about the only defender who got off the bus against UCLA, ending with 10 tackles and a sack. Campbell leads Penn State with 51 tackles and has even added two sacks, proving to be a capable successor to Kobe King at the MIKE position.
Campbell has two years of eligibility left, so Penn State football keeping him around could have long-term implications.
CHAZ COLEMAN
Typically, true freshmen start the season under-the-radar and work their way up. Coleman has been the opposite, and it isnโt his fault. The Warren, Ohio, native arrived at Penn State in the summer and almost immediately made an impact, getting on the coaching staff and mediaโs radar as a guy that could play right away.
And play, he did, averaging 23 snaps over the first five games per Pro Football Focus. But he only played four snaps against Northwestern and eight against Iowa, and without him being injured to anybodyโs knowledge, nobody really knows whatโs going on yet.
It was a close call between choosing Coleman and fellow true freshman Daryus Dixson for this spot, but Coleman gets the edge because he plays on the edge, which, next to quarterback, is about as important as any position.
KOBY HOWARD
Speaking of guys who arenโt playing and nobody knows whyโฆ
As Penn Stateโs receivers have struggled for what feels like the 20th year in a row (itโs really only been three), Howard has continued to mostly sit the bench as a true freshman. Although he did catch a 12-yard pass Saturday that got a lot of people excited, Howard only played five snaps, which, granted, were five more snaps than he had in the previous three games put together (all Penn State losses.)
Howard sent a cryptic tweet that only fueled Penn State fans to want to see him play more.
Next year, Howard will only be a sophomore, and Penn State has lacked a true difference-maker at receiver since Jahan Dotson. Redshirt freshman Tyseer Denmark is another receiver fans want to see more of, but Howard gets the slight edge because heโs slightly younger.
MALACHI GOODMAN
Five stars are important to get and important to keep. Penn State will need to build a new offensive line with ย Nick Dawkins, Drew Shelton and Vega Ioane all moving on. Keeping Goodman for his redshirt freshman season would be a good start.
COREY SMITH
Itโs hard to pick between Smith, Cam Wallace and Quinton Martin since none of those three have gotten a ton of reps due to the presence of Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton. But Smith has gotten more of a shot than Martin due partly to Martin having bad luck with injuries since getting to Penn State, and heโs a year younger than Wallace. Penn State is going to need a running game with Allen and Singleton gone, and although the portal is always an option, Smith is an important guy to keep.
