Penn State Down Key Contributors Ahead of Pinstripe Bowl Clash with Clemson
BRONX, N.Y. - As Penn State gears up for its Pinstripe Bowl showdown with Clemson at Yankee Stadium, the Nittany Lions will take the field missing a significant portion of their roster. Just two hours before kickoff, the team released its official availability report, and the list of absences is nothing short of staggering: 33 players ruled out, with running back Kaytron Allen listed as questionable.
This is a Penn State squad in transition - both in terms of personnel and leadership. Interim head coach Terry Smith had already signaled that the Nittany Lions would be without a number of key players, and now that list is official. The timing and sheer volume of absences offer a real glimpse into the evolving landscape of college football, where bowl games often serve as a bridge between seasons rather than a capstone.
Among the most notable absences are quarterback Drew Allar, running back Nick Singleton, and multiple starters on both sides of the ball. Allar, the team’s starting quarterback for much of the season, is out due to injury, as is backup Jaxon Smolik, who was hurt earlier this year at Iowa. That leaves Penn State extremely thin under center, a position that’s already tough to fill in a postseason setting.
Singleton, one of the Lions’ most dynamic offensive weapons, has opted to sit out to begin preparations for the 2026 NFL Draft. He’s not alone - defensive tackle Zane Durant, safety Zakee Wheatley, and offensive lineman Vega Ioane have also declared they’re forgoing the bowl to focus on their pro futures. It’s a growing trend across college football, and Penn State’s roster reflects it in full.
Injuries have also taken a toll. Wide receivers Kaden Saunders and Josiah Brown, linebacker Tony Rojas, tight end Khalil Dinkins, and defensive end Max Granville are all sidelined with long-term injuries. Antoine Belgrave-Shorter, a key piece in the secondary, was seen in a cast late in the season and won’t be available either.
The transfer portal has claimed its share of talent, too. Offensive lineman Alex Birchmeier, defensive end Daniel Jennings, cornerback Elliot Washington II, and linebacker Kari Jackson are all in the process of moving on.
A.J. Harris has also left the team and is expected to enter the portal.
Then there are the seniors - veterans like Nick Dawkins, Drew Shelton, Nolan Rucci, and Dinkins - who have played their final downs in a Penn State uniform. Smith confirmed Friday that those players would not suit up for the bowl.
It all adds up to a depleted roster that will test the depth and resilience of the program. The good news?
There’s still some uncertainty about a few key contributors. Allen and defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton are both dressed and available, though Smith didn’t commit to whether either would take the field.
Their presence - even in a limited capacity - could offer a stabilizing force for a young lineup.
Kickoff is set for noon ET on ABC, and the matchup offers plenty of intrigue despite the absences. For Penn State, it’s a chance to showcase the next wave of talent - the players who’ve been waiting in the wings all season. For Clemson, it’s an opportunity to take advantage of a thinned-out opponent and close their year on a high note.
The Big Ten’s pregame availability rule, implemented in 2023, requires teams to submit a list of players who are either out or questionable two hours before kickoff. It doesn’t mandate explanations, which leaves fans and analysts to piece together the puzzle based on injuries, draft decisions, and transfer movement.
One thing’s for sure: Penn State’s roster looks very different than it did just a few weeks ago. And as the Nittany Lions take the field in the Bronx, this game will be as much about who’s playing as who isn’t - and what that means for the program’s future.