Penn State roster tracker update: A look at the latest changes as 2022 begins

The Penn State football offseason officially kicked off on Jan. 2. A day earlier, the Lions concluded the 2021 season with a 24-10 loss to Arkansas in the Outback Bowl.

Things have been active over the last five days. On the staff front, Penn State lost senior director of football operations Michael Hazel to a promotion on Brent Pry’s Virginia Tech staff. The Lions also saw special teams coordinator Joe Lorig leave for Oregon. He was replaced in about 24 hours by Stacy Collins, who joins the program after spending time at Boise State and Utah State, among other stops.

As for the roster, there have been plenty of news about it, too, since the regular season ended.

Blue-White Illustrated has been tracking it all over the last month. The first update of 2022 combines all of the latest news and notes into a one-stop-shop for Penn State fans to catch up on any announcements they may have missed.

Transfer portal losses

Here is the updated list:

–Jan. 10, 2022: Defensive tackle Joseph Appiah Darkwa entered the portal. He has not yet officially left the Nittany Lions.

Dec. 17, 2021: Receiver Norval Black entered the transfer portal. It was previously reported that he was no longer on the roster.

–Dec. 13, 2021: Backup quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson has entered the portal. He quickly received an offer from Connecticut. He then committed to the Huskies on Tuesday, Dec. 28.

–Dec. 10, 2021: Rudolph announces on social media that he will continue his college football career at Massachusetts.

–Dec. 8, 2021: Former three-star offensive lineman Des Holmes enters the portal. It appeared that the Class of 2017 signee would be in line for a starting role this fall, but it never happened. That’s why he’s likely to play his final college season elsewhere.

–Dec. 2, 2021: Former four-star safety Enzo Jennings enters the portal. Hopes were high that the Michigan native would make an early impact for Penn State. Instead, he’s looking around after just two seasons in State College.

–Nov. 24, 2021: Safety Tyler Rudolph begins looking for a new college football home. The former four-star On3 Consensus recruit played in just four contests during the 2021 season.

Who is joining Penn State from the transfer portal?

So far, only one transfer portal target has picked the Lions: Mitchell Tinsley. The receiver made a name for himself at Western Kentucky. He finished 2021 with 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns on 87 receptions.The Lee’s Summit, Missouri native is 6-foot-1, 205 pounds.

Penn State also continues to pursue transferring Cornell offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad. His top five includes the Lions, Virginia Tech, Auburn, Iowa, and Illinois. The future guard/center at the FBS level graduates in the spring, and so an announcement anytime soon is unlikely.

BWI’s Ryan Snyder recently posted other names to know on the portal front. See that information inside The Lions Den forum.

Penn State seniors who must decide if they are staying or going

Unsurprisingly, this section has filled up in a big way between our first update in early December and now. Here is the latest:

QB Sean Clifford – Clifford confirmed on Dec. 10 that he’ll be returning to Penn State for the 2022 season.

WR Norval Black — As of Dec. 14, Black was no longer listed on the Lions’ roster. He confirmed a few days later that he’s in the portal.

*WR Jahan Dotson — Dotson announced on Dec. 27 that he is both not playing in the Outback Bowl and leaving for the NFL as expected.

WR Cam Sullivan-Brown – Has not yet made any announcement.

OT Anthony Whigan – No announcement has been made yet.

C Mike Miranda – Has not yet made an announcement.

*DE Arnold Ebiketie — Ebiketie announced on Dec. 28 that he would be both opting out of the Outback Bowl and declaring for the 2022 NFL Draft.

*DE Jesse Luketa – Luketa said on Dec. 17 that he would play in the Outback Bowl but that he wasn’t ready to announce a decision about his future yet.

DT Fred Hansard – Has not yet made an announcement.

DT PJ Mustipher – The All-Big Ten defender announced on Jan. 4 that he’s coming back in 2022. It’s unclear when he will be cleared for contact, however, after suffering a season-ending injury at Iowa in October.

LB Ellis Brooks – Brooks confirmed on Dec. 20 that he will forgo playing in the Outback Bowl and begin preparing for the NFL Draft.

S Ji’Ayir Brown – Brown will be back for the 2022 season.

S Jonathan Sutherland announced on Dec. 23 that he would return for a sixth and final season with the Nittany Lions.

LS Chris Stoll – The multi-year starter declared on Jan. 4 that he’d be back for a sixth season.

*K Jordan Stout – The Penn State do-everything specialist said on Jan. 4 that he is headed to the NFL Draft.

Who is out of eligibility?

For Penn State, that list includes:

RB John Lovett

OG Eric Wilson

DT Derrick Tangelo

S Jaquan Brisker

CB Tariq Castro-Fields

Which Penn State underclassmen are leaving, and which are returning?

Brandon Smith became the first player to do so back on December 17. No others have followed suit as of Dec. 28.

Corner Joey Porter Jr., then, made the opposite decision. He is returning for the 2022 season.

On Jan. 3, offensive tackle Rasheed Walker declared for the NFL Draft.

On Jan. 5, reserve defensive tackle Aeneas Hawkins announced the end of his football career. He will graduate from Penn State with a degree in broadcast journalism this summer.

Penn State positions that could be impacted by the portal

Penn State will continue looking for additions at numerous positions. Defensive tackle may no longer be a priority, but the rest listed in the quote below certainly are.

“Whether it’s the second signing day or whether it’s the transfer portal, I think we have some interest depending on how some things play out,” Franklin said. “But I think we have a need on the offensive line. I think we would be interested in a wide receiver.
 
“And then if you talk about the defensive side of the ball, a defensive end, possibly a defensive tackle based on some things that could happen on our roster.”