What are the top five Penn State football things we learned in May?

Penn State football had a busy month of May, even if it was after spring practice concluded. There were roster changes, big stadium news, some staff additions, and much more.

Here are the top five things we learned during the calendar’s fifth month.

1. A plan is in place for Beaver Stadium

The Penn State Board of Trustees approved the first $70 million in funding for the initial steps in a wide-ranging plan to renovate the west side of Beaver Stadium and do other work around the 63-year-old venue on May 5. While it was previously known that a full rebuild wasn’t in the cards, the funding request’s passage was the first finalized action related to the stadium after years of talk about renovating versus rebuilding. Construction is planned to begin in Jan. 2025 and finish by Aug. 2027.

It all starts with the design phase.

“If we hit all our marks right now, if we keep moving, August 2027,” Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft told BWI. “From a cost perspective, the longer you wait, we’re seeing such an escalation in costs. So we wanted to get it done as quick as we can,” Kraft said. “But, we feel good that that’s a standard kind of timeline.

“But, you got to design it. You got to know what we’re going to do. And so we’re really excited about that phase.”

2. A new portal pickup

Penn State made what is likely to be its final transfer portal pickup of the offseason on May 16. That’s when former Mississippi State cornerback Audavion Collins picked the Lions. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound redshirt freshman from Covington, Ga., is already on campus. He did not play during his one season with the Bulldogs. But, he hopes to change that in State College. He enters a position group that has a strong top four but definitely had room for another addition.

3. Newcomers arrive at Penn State

Collins was joined by several other college transfers, plus Class of 2023 signees, in arriving on campus this month. They all now have their jersey number assignments ahead of their first practice in blue and white later this month. Here’s the rundown:

New numbers for transfers

3 – Dante Cephas – Wide Receiver – 6-foot, 180 pounds

23 – Trey Potts – Running Back – 5-foot-9, 215 pounds

29 – Audavion Collins – Cornerback – 5-foot-11, 175 pounds

50 – Alonzo Ford Jr. – Defensive Tackle – 6-foot-2, 280 pounds

79 – Addison Penn – Offensive Line – 6-foot-2, 310 pounds 

New numbers for Class of 2023 arrivals

8 – DaKaari Nelson – Safety – 6-foot-3, 200 pounds

9 – King Mack – Safety – 5-foot-10, 175 pounds

24 – London Montgomery – Running Back – 5-foot-10, 180 pounds

26 – Cameron Wallace – Running Back – 5-foot-9, 175 pounds

39 – Ty Blanding – Defensive Tackle – 6-foot-1, 265 pounds

48 – Kaveion Keys – Linebacker – 6-foot-2, 195 pounds

56 – Joseph Mupoyi – Defensive End – 6-foot-5, 240 pounds

87 – Andrew Rappleyea – Tight End – 6-foot-4, 235 pounds

4. Penn State had some staff changes

Penn State had some changes to its off-field staff in May. Graduate assistant Dwayne Scott left for a similar job at Pittsburgh. He was replaced by new GA Kevin Ceh, who, like Scott, will focus on the offensive line. Former FCS coordinator and NFL assistant Ola Adams, meanwhile, is now a defensive analyst on the staff. So, too, is former grad assistant David Parker. The Lions must still fill his role on the staff.

5. The White Out game is in

Penn State will face Iowa in its annual White Out game. The contest will start at 8 p.m. on CBS. Other game themes were announced in May, as well. So, too, were some other kick times. The Lions will face West Virginia in their opener at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC. And, their season finale trip to Michigan State will be at 7:30 p.m. on NBC.

Penn State home game themes:

Sept. 2, West Virginia: Helmet stripe game

Sept. 9, Delaware: THON; Spirit Day; Youth Sport Day

Sept. 23, Iowa: White Out

Oct. 14, UMASS: Homecoming, Generations of Greatness

Oct. 28, Indiana: Military Appreciation Day; Seats for Servicemembers

Nov. 11, Michigan: Stripe out

Nov. 18, Rutgers: Senior Day; All-U Day