Iowa State defensive coordinator John Heacock could be a top candidate to follow Penn State head coach Matt Campbell to Happy Valley as the Nittany Lions' next defensive coordinator. (Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images)
Penn State Football head coach Matt Campbell has started to fill out his first roster at Penn State through the transfer portal.
Within the first three days of the 2026 transfer portal window, Campbell has picked up commitments from 15 total transfers, all from his 2025 Iowa State team.
The 15-Cyclone Start: Ranking the 3 Biggest Holes Remaining on Matt Campbell’s Roster
While many of these transfers fill large holes in Penn State’s 2026 roster (ex. Quarterback Rocco Becht), there are still a few remaining holes that Campbell and staff will need to fill before the 2026 season begins.
The two biggest holes remaining on Penn State’s roster ahead of the 2026 season both are along the defensive line.
Penn State’s Edge Crisis: Replacing the NFL Talent
After Deion Barnes was not retained by Matt Campbell on the Nittany Lions staff, many of Penn State’s defensive linemen hit the transfer portal, leaving Penn State with a shortage of both starting talent and depth pieces along the defensive line.
Transfers out: Chaz Coleman, Daniel Jennings, Jaylen Harvey, Zuriah Fisher
Penn State has lost a wealth of talent at defensive end in the transfer portal and to the NFL draft.
Star edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton will enter the 2026 NFL draft.
Meanwhile, promising freshman Chaz Coleman and redshirt freshman Jaylen Harvey both entered the transfer portal along with true freshman Daniel Jennings and sixth year senior Zuriah Fisher, leaving the Nittany Lions with very little depth at the position.
Transfers in: None
So far, Penn State has hosted visits for transfer portal targets, but has not yet picked up a commitment from a defensive end in the transfer portal.
High-Upside Targets: Anto Saka, Alex Mcpherson & Kellen Lindstrom
Penn State is making a push to hire Northwestern assistant defensive line coach Christian Smith as an edge rushers coach, per John Brice of FootballScoop.
After Smith’s expected hire was reported, Northwestern star edge rusher Anto Saka entered the transfer portal with a do-not-contact tag.
Penn State was involved in Saka’s high school recruitment before he chose to play at Northwestern. Saka has recorded 14 tackles for a loss and 12 sacks in his career at Northwestern.
Colorado transfer portal edge Alex McPherson visited Penn State this weekend.
McPherson played in 10 games during his true freshman season at Colorado, recording 16 tackles half of a sack, and half of a tackle for a loss. The 6-foot-6-inch, 240-pound edge rusher from Florida has three more seasons of eligibility.
Meanwhile, 247Sports reported that Tennessee edge rusher Kellen Lindstrom was receiving interest from Penn State and could visit at some point this month.
Lindstrom is a 6-foot-5-inch, 240 pound edge from Missouri with three years of eligibility remaining. At Tennessee, Lindstrom played in six games over two seasons, recording six tackles.
Buy The Newest Penn State Gear From Fanatics | Shop Penn State Merchandise on Amazon
The Interior Bulwark: Finding the 300-Pound “Pluggers” Along Defensive Line
As mentioned above, many of Penn State’s defensive tackles also are either entering the NFL draft or entering the transfer portal, leaving Penn State’s defensive tackle depth in question ahead of the 2026 season.
Transfers out: Xavier Gilliam, Kaleb Artis, Owen Wafle, Sam Siafa, Enzo White
Both Penn State leading defensive tackles Zane Durant (declared for the NFL draft after four years with the Nittany Lions) and redshirt senior Alonzo Ford (out of eligibility) will be off the roster heading into 2026.
Behind Durant and Ford, number three defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam opted to enter the transfer portal along with Kaleb Artis, Owen Wafle, and walk-on Sam Siafa.
This leaves Penn State with only redshirt junior Ty Blanding as the only defensive tackle to record a stat in 2025 remaining on the Penn State roster.
Transfers in: Alijah Carnell
Redshirt freshman Alijah Carnell committed to transfer from Iowa State to Penn State and follow Matt Campbell to Happy Valley. During his redshirt freshman season in 2025, Carnell played in 11 games for the Cyclones and recorded eight tackles, half of a sack, and half of a tackle for a loss.
Carnell is a 6-foot-5, 290 pound defensive tackle from Las Vegas, Nevada with three years of eligibility remaining.
Potential transfer portal targets: Keanu Williams, Andy Burburija
Keanu Williams: The UCLA Connection
Keanu Williams, Joe Hjelle, Xion Chapman
UCLA defensive tackle Keanu Williams visited Penn State this weekend after Williams’ defensive line coach Ikaika Malloe was hired by Matt Campbell at Penn State.
Williams is a sixth year senior that has played at both Oregon and UCLA. Over 37 career games, Williams has recorded 54 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1.5 tackles for a loss, and a fumble recovery. Williams committed to the Nittany Lions Monday night.
JUCO Power: Andy Burburija
Iowa Western Andy Burburija set an official visit to Penn State for later this month. The 6-foot-2-inch, 290 pound defensive tackle ranks 20th overall as a JUCO product according to 247Sports JUCO ratings and sixth as a defensive linemen. In 12 games in 2025, Burburija recorded 45 tackles and 11 sacks.
Joe Hjelle
Former Tulsa defensive tackle Joe Hjelle is also linked to Penn State after posting 36 tackles, 4.5 tackle for a loss, and 2.5 sacks in 2025.
Hjelle is a 6-foot-3-inch, 300 pound defensive tackle.
Xion Chapman
FIU defensive tackle Xion Chapman will visit Penn State this weekend after being offered by Penn State out of the transfer portal this weekend after being offered by Penn State this week.
Chapman is a 6-foot-4-inch, 300-pound defender who played in 12 games for FIU this season, recording 15 tackles, three tackles for a loss, and two sacks. Chapman also played at Lackawanna College, a school where Penn State has had success with players in the past, including Jaquan Brisker and Ji’Ayir Brown.
Secondary Speed: Beyond the ISU Reunion
Matt Campbell made retaining cornerbacks coach Terry Smith a top priority for Penn State upon accepting the Penn State head coaching job.
With Terry Smith on board, Penn State was able to keep some great young talent in the cornerbacks room, with Daryus Dixson and Jamir Joseph and veteran players Zion Tracy and Audavion Collins.
At the safety position, Penn State lost quite a bit of talent with King Mack and AJ Belgrave-Shorter entering the transfer portal. Penn State already picked up two transfer portal commitment in Marcus Neal Jr. and Jamison Patton, however, Penn State could still use to land a few depth pieces in the defensive backs rooms.
Transfers out: Kenny Woseley Jr., Kolin Dinkins, Braz Thomas, King Mack, Elliot Washington, AJ Harris, Lamont Payne, Antoine Belgrave-Shorter
Penn State lost a few starting caliber players in the transfer portal at both cornerback and safety, but are still in a good position from a talent perspective in both rooms. While AJ Harris and Elliot Washington are big losses in the cornerbacks room, guys like Daryus Dixson and Jamir Joseph stood out during their true freshman seasons and look to take on an increased role in 2026. At safety, King Mack is the biggest loss, as he finished the year as Penn State’s starting safety opposite Zakee Wheatley.
Transfers in: Marcus Neal Jr., Jamison Patton
Penn State already picked up commitments from two Iowa State safeties in Marcus Neal Jr. and Jamison Patton.
Potential transfer portal targets: Noah King, Dwayne Galloway Jr.
Noah King: The Physical Prototype
Colorado cornerback Noah King is a former four-star athlete out of Cincinnati, Ohio that originally committed to Kansas State before ending up at Colorado for his freshman season.
King’s 6-foot-2-inch, 200-pound frame is an ideal mold for the type of cornerback that Terry Smith and Matt Campbell are looking to add to the cornerback room.
With four seasons of eligibility remaining, King could provide depth in the cornerback room in 2026 while working into a bigger role in 2027 and beyond.
Dwayne Galloway Jr.: The 4.3 Burner
Speedy West Virginia cornerback Dwayne Galloway Jr. has set up an official visit this week, per Nittany Central’s Ian Purdy. The Ohio native cornerback redshirted at West Virginia this season, but did clock a 4.3 40-yard-dash time in high school.
Matt Campbell already has 17 former Cyclones committed in the transfer portal just this week. As the transfer portal window continues, look for Campbell to fill out the roster with a quite a few non-Iowa State players in key positions before the window closes.
Loved this story? Get all our Penn State football coverage and insider updates first. Join our FREE newsletter — your front-row seat to the Lions.
A note to our readers; If you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may receive a commission
- Beyond the Cyclones: 3 Massive Gaps Matt Campbell Must Fix to Save the Penn State Defense - January 6, 2026
- The ‘Mouser Blueprint’: 3 Ways Benjamin Brahmer Transforms Penn State’s 2026 Offense - January 5, 2026
- BREAKING: Penn State Lands Iowa State Transfer Safety Marcus Neal Jr. as Big Transfer Portal Win - January 4, 2026
About the Author
