Penn State’s Top 5 Transfer Portal Losses: Breaking Down the Departures That Matter Most
The dust has finally settled on one of the wildest transfer portal periods in Penn State football history. Never before had the Nittany Lions seen this much movement-both in terms of incoming talent and outgoing departures.
And while the additions have brought intrigue, the losses carry weight. Some players were depth pieces, others were future stars, and a few were already key contributors.
With the portal window now officially closed, it’s time to take a closer look at the five most impactful departures from Happy Valley. These aren’t just names on a list-each exit leaves a very real hole in Penn State’s 2026 roster, and in some cases, a tough-to-replace skill set.
Let’s dive into the five players Penn State will miss the most-and why.
5. Amare Campbell - Linebacker
Amare Campbell wasn’t just a starter-he was the engine of Penn State’s defense. Logging 769 snaps, more than any other defender on the team, Campbell was a constant presence and a reliable tackler, racking up 103 stops-good for 14% of the team’s total tackles, per Pro Football Focus.
His game was built on consistency and awareness. With a 77.6 overall defensive grade, Campbell excelled in zone coverage and rarely missed assignments in the run game. He allowed fewer than six yards per target in coverage and missed tackles on just 8.1% of attempts-a strong number for a linebacker with that much on his plate.
Campbell’s decision to follow former defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to Tennessee stings. Not just because of his production, but because he was the defense’s most experienced voice at the second level. That kind of communication and leadership is hard to replicate, especially for a unit that will now be breaking in new personnel and potentially a new identity.
4. Xavier Gilliam - Defensive Tackle
Gilliam flew under the radar, but make no mistake-he was one of Penn State’s most efficient interior defenders. While he played under 40% of the team’s defensive snaps, his impact was outsized. His run-stop rate topped 9%, which puts him well above the Power Four average for defensive tackles.
The tape backs it up too. Gilliam posted an 87.3 PFF grade against Nebraska-the best single-game performance by a Penn State DT all year. He also finished among the top three PSU linemen in “win” tackles (those resulting in no gain or a loss), showing a knack for disrupting plays at the point of attack.
His departure doesn’t just thin out the rotation-it removes a proven disruptor from the middle of the defense. For a team that values depth and rotational consistency up front, Gilliam’s exit is a meaningful blow.
3. Ethan Grunkemeyer - Quarterback
There’s no sugarcoating this one: losing a promising quarterback in the middle of his development arc is tough.
Grunkemeyer’s trajectory was pointing up. Over his last four games, his adjusted completion percentage climbed nearly 10 points, and his turnover-worthy play rate dipped below 2.5%. In the Pinstripe Bowl, he delivered an 87.9 PFF passing grade-one of the top five bowl performances in the country.
What really stood out was his ability to operate without the crutch of play-action. Grunkemeyer averaged 8.6 yards per attempt without it, a strong indicator of his independent processing and decision-making. That’s the kind of trait that separates system quarterbacks from true field generals.
While he may not have been penciled in as the 2026 starter, Grunkemeyer was clearly trending toward becoming a serious option. His departure leaves the quarterback room thinner and removes a player who looked poised to take the next step.
2. Andrew Olesh - Tight End
Olesh’s ranking here is built more on projection than production, but the upside is real-and the numbers back it up.
Coming out of high school, Olesh averaged more than 2.4 yards per route run and posted an explosive-play rate over 20%. Those are elite numbers for a tight end prospect, and they point to a player with the potential to be a serious mismatch weapon in the passing game.
Now he’s headed to Oregon, a program known for turning athletic tight ends into offensive chess pieces. That’s where the sting really sets in for Penn State. They didn’t just lose a developmental prospect-they lost a potential future star before his college career even had a chance to take off.
1. Chaz Coleman - EDGE
This one hurts the most-and it’s not even close.
Chaz Coleman was already one of the most dangerous pass-rushers in the Power Five. His 90.3 PFF pass-rush grade put him among the top five returning edge defenders, and his 22% win rate? That’s NFL-level production.
Sure, his run defense still needed work, but that’s typical for young edge players. What matters is that Coleman had the kind of elite pressure efficiency that often leads to massive Year 2-to-Year 3 jumps. He was trending toward becoming a cornerstone of the defense-a true game-wrecker off the edge.
Losing that kind of high-end talent, especially at a premium position like EDGE, is the kind of portal hit that can reshape a season. You don’t just replace a player like Coleman. You try to survive the loss and hope someone else can grow into the role.
Final Thoughts
For all the talent Penn State gained through the portal, these five exits highlight just how volatile roster building has become in the modern college football era. Every player on this list brought either proven production, high-end potential, or both. And while the coaching staff will work to fill the gaps, there’s no denying the impact these losses will have in 2026.
The portal giveth, and the portal taketh away. For Penn State, the challenge now is making sure the pieces they’ve added can offset what they’ve lost.
Because when you look at the names above, it’s clear-this wasn’t just a numbers game. These were foundational players.