Penn State football scholarship chart: Where do the Lions sit in the final week of December?

Penn State has reached the final week of 2022. The Lions’ roster has seen plenty of changes between Jan. 1 of this year and now. It will see even more once the season officially ends at the Rose Bowl.

Where does the scholarship chart stand entering the postseason contest? Our unofficial projections are below. Note that we have already removed players who have either declared for the NFL Draft or will be out of eligibility following the matchup with Utah, even if they will play in the contest. It’s why you won’t see players like Sean Clifford, Juice Scruggs, or Ji’Ayir Brown, among others, listed below. This is a 2023 projection, and we’ll note that the rundown includes many players with stay-or-go decisions to make, such as lineman Bryce Effner.

Finally, since this piece has an eye on the future, we’re rolling eligibility ahead, as well. It’s why Drew Allar is listed as a second-year player, for example, even though his freshman season is not yet complete. We have also decided to go with first year, second year, etc., instead of the traditional freshman, sophomore, etc., due to the extra year of eligibility some members of the roster received from the NCAA in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Penn State scholarship picture at quarterback

Drew Allar, second year
Beau Pribula, second year
Jaxon Smolik, first year

The skinny: Penn State would probably prefer to have four scholarship passers heading into the new year. However, with Allar set to take over for Clifford and run the show for at least the next two years, bringing someone in is easier said than done.

Lions’ scholarship picture at running back

Keyvone Lee, fourth year
Nicholas Singleton, second year
Kaytron Allen, second year
London Montgomery, first year
Cameron Wallace, first year

The skinny: Penn State was able to sign two running backs in the Class of 2023, which means it will have a handful of scholarship running backs regardless of what Lee decides to do. At this point in time, all signs point to him returning to the Lions in 2023.

Penn State scholarship picture at receiver

KeAndre Lambert-Smith, fourth year
Malick Meiga, fourth year
Jaden Dottin, fourth year
Harrison Wallace III, third year
Liam Clifford, third year
Kaden Saunders, second year
Omari Evans, second year
Anthony Ivey, second year
Tyler Johnson, second year
Cristian Driver, second year
Carmelo Taylor, first year

The skinny: Penn State wants to add to this room via the transfer portal. It will take one or two pass catchers if it can find the right fit. Only Evans burned his redshirt among the Class of 2022 signees listed above. The biggest challenge at the moment is that while there are 10 players in the room, none have yet showcased lead receiver abilities consistently.

Lions’ scholarship picture at tight end

Theo Johnson, fourth year
Tyler Warren, fourth year
Khalil Dinkins, third year
Jerry Cross, second year
Mathias “Mega” Barnwell, first year
Joey Schlaffer, first year
Andrew Rappleyea, first year

The skinny: Strange is off to the NFL. Johnson is eligible to join him there but has not yet discussed his future and should be back.

Lions scholarship picture along the offensive line

Tackle
Bryce Effner, sixth year
Caedan Wallace, fifth year
Jimmy Christ, fourth year
Olu Fashanu, fourth year
Ibrahim Traore, fourth year
Drew Shelton, second year
Alex Birchmeier, first year
Jven Williams, first year
Anthony Donkoh, first year

Guard/center
Hunter Nourzad, sixth year (second at Penn State)
Sal Wormley, fifth year
JB Nelson, fourth year (second at Penn State)
Golden Israel-Achumba, fourth year
Nick Dawkins, fourth year
Landon Tengwall, third year
Vega Ioane, second year

The skinny: Fashanu and Nourzad are back for another season, and they will anchor the Lions’ line with the latter likely moving to center. This room is a mix of young players with experience and veterans who have not yet earned many reps in addition to the established names. Effner has a stay-or-go decision to make. But, the rest are expected back.

Penn State scholarship picture along the defensive line

Defensive end

Smith Vilbert, fifth year
Adisa Isaac, fifth year
Amin Vanover, fourth year
Zuriah Fisher, fourth year
Chop Robinson, third year (second at Penn State)
Dani Dennis-Sutton, second year
Mason Robinson, first year
Joseph Mupoyi, first year
Jameial Lyons, first year

Defensive tackle

Dvon Ellies, fifth year
Hakeem Beamon, fifth year
Coziah Izzard, fourth year
Fatorma Mulbah, fourth year
Jordan van den Berg, fourth year (third at PSU)
Kaleb Artis, second year
Zane Durant, second year
Tyriq Blanding, first year

The skinny: There are some pending stay-or-go decisions here. Isaac must decide what his next steps will be. Others must, as well. Penn State would not mind adding to its numbers here via the transfer portal, if possible.

Lions’ scholarship picture at linebacker

Charlie Katshir, sixth year
Tyler Elsdon, fifth year
Curtis Jacobs, fourth year
Tyrece Mills, fourth year (second at PSU)
Jamari Buddin, third year
Kobe King, third year
Keon Wylie, second year
Abdul Carter, second year
Ta’Mere Robinson, first year
Tony Rojas, first year
Kaveion Keys, first year

The skinny: Penn State picked up Keys in December to finish off a massive Class of 2023 haul at linebacker. Don’t be surprised if at least one of the new Lions burns his redshirt next fall. Katshir is unlikely to return for a sixth year but has not yet announced his plans. Jacobs, then, could be off to the NFL following the Rose Bowl.

Penn State scholarship picture in the secondary

Cornerback

Daequan Hardy, fifth year
Marquis Wilson, fifth year
Johnny Dixon, fifth year (third at PSU)
Storm Duck, fourth year (first at PSU)
Kalen King, third year
Cam Miller, second year
Elliot Washington, first year
Zion Tracy, first year

Safety

Keaton Ellis, fifth year
Jaylen Reed, third year
Zakee Wheatley, third year
KJ Winston Jr., second year
Mehki Flowers, second year
DaKaari Nelson, first year
Lamont Payne, first year
King Mack, first year

The skinny: Penn State will have to wait and see on what Ellis will do after the bowl game. Hardy and Wilson have choices to make, as well. All told, though, the secondary figures to be a strength of the team again in 2023, even without likely first-round pick Joey Porter Jr.

Lions’ scholarship picture at specialist

Kicker

Jake Pinegar, sixth year
Sander Sahaydak, third year

Punter

Riley Thompson, second year (first at PSU; transferring in from FAU)
Alex Bacchetta, second year

The skinny: Pinegar is not likely to return for another year. But, until he announces that, we list him here for now. At punter, Penn State will have a fascinating battle between freshman All-American Thompson and former top-ranked high school punter Bacchetta.

How does the Penn State projected scholarship chart break down by position, and what is the current total?

Quarterback – 3

Running back – 5

Wide receiver – 11

Tight end – 7

Offensive tackle – 9

Guard/center – 7

Total on offense: 42

Defensive end – 9

Defensive tackle – 8

Linebacker – 11

Cornerback – 8

Safety – 8

Total on defense: 44

Kicker – 2

Punter – 2

Total on special teams: 4

Overall projected Penn State scholarship total as of Dec. 28: 90

Final word

Yes, as we sit here before the Rose Bowl, Penn State is currently four players over the 85-man scholarship limit with plans of adding more players via the transfer portal and/or second signing day before the 2023 season begins. But, as we know, defections are coming after the bowl game, either via the portal or the NFL Draft. And, some of the players who come back by using their COVID year won’t count against this number.

The Lions always sit at or below 85 scholarship players by the time they need to. This year will be no different.