Penn State’s offseason reset sent a wave of familiar names elsewhere, and a few of them are already making real noise in new colors.
Under head coach Matt Campbell, 49 players from the 2025 roster entered the transfer portal in January, and several landed in spots where they’ve become important pieces right away. Some followed former Penn State coaches, others simply found fresh opportunity. Either way, a handful of ex-Nittany Lions are putting together seasons worth tracking during Penn State’s bye week.
At Tennessee, former defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has a defense loaded with Penn State connections, and two of his transfers have earned AP midseason All-American recognition. Defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam has turned into one of the best stories in the group. Through seven starts, he has 23 tackles, 10.5 for loss, and five sacks in what’s become a breakout season.
Linebacker Amare Campbell is right there with him in the Volunteers’ front seven. After posting 103 tackles for Penn State last season and making a public statement about his value while entering the portal, Campbell has 46 tackles, 6.5 for loss, and two sacks while remaining a centerpiece in Knowles’ system.
Safety Dejuan Lane has also settled into a major role, starting for the first time in his career and tying for eighth nationally with three interceptions. Lane has added 28 tackles, five for loss, and two sacks.
Knowles’ defense has been a major story in its own right. After Penn State ranked 30th nationally in scoring defense last season, Tennessee is sitting ninth in that category this year. The Volunteers are 6-1 and head to South Carolina on Saturday.
Another former Penn State tight end, Luke Reynolds, is also in midseason All-American territory. Starting in seven games, Reynolds has hauled in 43 catches for 449 yards and four touchdowns and has become one of the main targets for quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer.
Grunkemeyer, who started the final seven games of Penn State’s 2025 season, is now back under center at Virginia Tech and producing at a higher level. He’s completed 72.9 percent of his passes for 1,984 yards, 15 touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s had steady protection from right guard Michael Troutman III, who has started the past four games after not appearing for Penn State last season while redshirting.
Virginia Tech has also gotten production from several other former Penn State players. Defensive end Cortez Harris has started as a second-year player and posted 15 tackles, 5.5 for loss, along with five sacks in seven appearances.
Defensive tackle Mylachi Williams has contributed in rotation with 10 tackles, eight for loss, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Linebacker Keon Wylie has become a starter as well, piling up 36 tackles, four for loss, and a sack.
The Hokies are 5-2 under James Franklin and visit Clemson on Saturday.
Elsewhere, Beau Pribula has once again won a starting job, this time at Virginia after a season at Missouri. Through seven games with the Cavaliers, he has completed 65.4 percent of his passes for 1,211 yards, 13 touchdowns and one interception.
Jaxon Smolik is another former Penn State quarterback who opened the year as a starter somewhere else, though his season has been interrupted. He started Temple’s first three games, including the 27-9 loss to Penn State, but left the Week 3 game against Toledo early because of injury. He returned last weekend against Charlotte before being replaced by Ajani Sheppard.
On defense, Indiana cornerback A.J. Harris has worked through injury but returned to the starting lineup against Ohio State last weekend and made six tackles in that game.
His former cornerback teammate Elliot Washington II is now starting for Clemson after reuniting with former Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen. Washington has 20 tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble in six games played.
At North Carolina, defensive end Jaylen Harvey has started four games and has 18 tackles, five for loss, two sacks and two fumble recoveries. He missed a game earlier this month because of injury but has since returned.
And at the FCS level, former walk-on Aaron Enterline has gone from limited snaps at Penn State to the top of Towson’s passing game. He leads the team with 44 catches for 663 yards and nine touchdowns, which is tied for the second-most touchdowns scored at the FCS level.
In Other News...
Penn State May Be Facing Another Costly Recruiting Blow
Penn States 2027 recruiting class has already taken some hits, and the latest concern centers on a prospect who looked relatively firm not long ago. Three-star linebacker Blake Betton, one of Minnesotas top prospects, committed to the Nittany Lions in April and was back on campus for a recent visit, but his name has now surfaced in connection with a possible flip to Wisconsin. His situation comes in the wake of quarterback Will Woods de-commitment and move to Boston College, a reminder that even early pledges can get complicated quickly in the current recruiting climate.
For Penn State, the concern is not just about losing another name, but about how these decisions get shaped by the usual mix of geography, finances and on-field outlook. Linebacker has long been a position the Nittany Lions can sell with confidence, but when a prospect is from farther away and other schools keep pushing, the pull can become hard to ignore. Bettons status is one to watch, and if Penn State is going to steady this class, keeping him in the fold would be a good place to start. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Late QB Push Could Shape Its Next Foundation
Penn States search for its next quarterback in the 2027 class has taken on added urgency after Will Wood flipped his commitment to Boston College. With the current starters moving toward the end of their eligibility, the staff is clearly trying to get ahead of the curve and secure a passer who can become part of the programs next core.
Braylen Warren is the latest name to enter the mix, and the Nittany Lions have extended a scholarship offer to the top-ranked quarterback prospect, even though he is currently committed to Missouri. It is a reminder that Penn State is still active in the early stages of building its future depth chart, and the next move in this recruitment could go a long way toward shaping the foundation of the room for years to come. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Wrestling Freshmen Face A Reality Even Stars Can't Escape
Penn States latest wave of wrestling talent is running into the same hard truth that has defined the program for years: nothing is handed out, not even to the stars. Cael Sanderson said the battle for starting spots remains wide open and stressed that being ready matters more than any recruiting ranking, a reminder that even the most celebrated freshmen have to wait their turn in a room loaded with proven names.
The conversation also turned to the five-for-five eligibility rule change, which could eventually reshape how opportunities are distributed, though Sanderson said it is still unclear what the impact will be. For recruits such as Jayden James, the path to the mat may not be immediate, and that is the reality at Penn State, where depth is both a strength and a traffic jam. [Read more 🡒]