Penn State roster tracker update: Where the Lions stand as 2021 winds to a close

The Penn State football program has received both good and bad news during December.

Lately, the good has outweighed the bad.

Head coach James Franklin and his Nittany Lions arrived in Tampa, Fla., over the weekend to begin preparing for the Outback Bowl. They meet Arkansas there on New Year’s Day at Noon ET. ESPN2 will televise the contest.

Blue-White Illustrated has been tracking all of the roster moves since the Lions ended the regular season with a 30-27 loss at Michigan State.

Which players have entered the NCAA transfer portal? Has anyone joined the Lions from it? Who has made a decision about leaving for the NFL or staying? And what other additions and subtractions have been made to head coach James Franklin’s team?

Below, you’ll find updates on all of those categories and more.

Transfer portal losses

Here is the updated list:

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?

Penn State made its first portal splash on Christmas Eve.

The Lions landed former Western Kentucky receiver Mitchell Tinsley on Dec. 24. He caught 87 passes for 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2021. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound pass catcher is from Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

Cornell offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad is the player to watch now. He has yet to make a decision but has offers from all over.

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

This section’s latest update since we originally posted it is that Jonathan Sutherland is returning for another season in State College. Any player with no update next their name means that he has not yet made a decision.

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

OT Anthony Whigan

C Mike Miranda

*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

DT PJ Mustipher

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 play in the Outback Bowl. He has also announced that he’ll return 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.

*K Jordan Stout

A * means that Dotson, Ebiketie, Luketa, Brisker, and Stout have all accepted Senior Bowl invitations. They could still return, however, despite doing so.

Who is out of eligibility?

For Penn State, that list includes:

RB John Lovett

OG Eric Wilson

DT Derrick Tangelo – Tangelo announced on Dec. 29 that he won’t be participating in the Outback Bowl.

S Jaquan Brisker

CB Tariq Castro-Fields

Which Penn State underclassmen are leaving for the NFL Draft, 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.

Penn State positions that could be impacted by the portal

James Franklin identified the Lions’ possible needs during his early signing day news conference.

“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.”