Penn State rumor tracker 2.0: Who are Lions targeting in the transfer portal?

Penn State made its first splashes in the transfer portal on Saturday, adding Iowa State tight end Benjamin Brahmer and offensive lineman Will Tompkins.

A boatload of other former Cyclones players have made their way to Penn State’s campus this weekend for visits, and coach Matt Campbell and Co. could be busy in landing their services.

There are plenty of other names to keep and eye on. Penn State has plenty of holes to fill on the 2026 roster.

Here, we’ll keep you updates on all the visits, rumors and predictions that come across Penn State-related names.

For more updates specifically on Penn State’s 2026 roster, check out our 2026 roster tracker here.

PENN STATE TRANSFER COMMITMENTS

Iowa State wide receiver Brett Eskildsen
Iowa State linebacker Caleb Bacon
Iowa State running back Carson Hansen
Iowa State offensive lineman Kuol Kuol II
Iowa State linebacker Cael Brezina
Iowa State offensive lineman Trevor Buhr
Iowa State linebacker Kooper Ebel

2024 LVL Athlete of the Year semifinalists

INCOMING PENN STATE VISITS/RUMORS

JAN. 4 NOTES:

Colorado defensive back Noah King

Set to visit Penn State this week, per 247Sports.

West Virginia defensive back Dawayne Galloway

Also set for a visit this week.

Wyoming defensive tackle Lucas Samsula

Made 15 tackles and 1.5 sacks this season.

Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht

Per On3, Becht is on campus in Happy Valley and is still expected to commit to Penn State soon.
UPDATE: Becht has committed to PSU.

Ohio State running back James Peoples

The former No. 115 overall prospect is set to visit Penn State on Monday, per On3.

North Dakota State offensive lineman Trent Fraley

FCS All-American visited Penn State this weekend, per On3.
Pennsylvania native from the Pittsburgh area.

Iowa State safety Marcus Neal Jr.

No. 7 safety in the portal was a third-team All-Big 12 honoree this year.
UPDATE: Neal has committed to Penn State.

Lafayette offensive lineman Sean Kinney

Nazareth, Pa., native was a freshman All-American with three starts and 12 appearances this season.

Iowa State wide receiver Chase Sowell

The one-time East Carolina transfer had 500 receiving yards and two touchdowns this season.

FIU defensive tackle Xion Chapman

Taking a visit starting Jan. 6.
Allentown, Pa., native who started career at Lackawanna College (junior college). Made 15 tackles and two sacks this season.

Colorado defensive end Alexander McPherson

After reported interest Friday, McPherson is visiting Penn State this weekend, per On3.
McPherson was a three-star recruit in the 2025 class. Made 15 tackles this year.

UConn linebacker Oumar Diomande

Will visit Penn State on Jan. 7, per 247Sports.
Made 116 tackles this season.

Iowa Western defensive lineman Andy Burburija

Made 45 tackles and 11 sacks in the junior college ranks this season.
Signed with Kansas State in December but is looking for a new home.

Southeast Louisiana wide receiver Jaylon Domingeaux

Will also visit Cincinnati and Wisconsin.
Had 857 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.

JAN. 2 NOTES:

Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht

Becht has one year of eligbility remaining but started under Campbell’s offensive staff for three years. With Ethan Grunkmeyer entering the portal, Penn State has seemingly pivoted to the familiar Campbell face.
Becht has also received various predictions from On3 and 247Sports to land with Penn State.

South Dakota running back L.J. Phillips

The FCS All-American is set to visit PSU on Jan. 6, per 247Sports.
Phillips led the FCS with 1,920 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns.

Iowa State wide receiver Brett Eskildsen

Eskildsen will visit Penn State this week, per On3.
The rising junior led the Cyclones with 536 receiving yards in 2025.

Iowa State wide receiver Karon Brookins

Brookins played at Winslow Township in New Jersey for former PSU standout Bill Belton. Brookings, 6-5 and 200 pounds, was a three-star in the 2025 class.

Tulsa defensive tackle Joe Hjelle

The 300-pounder had 46 tackles and 2.5 sacks this season.

Arkansas State defensive tackle Cody Sigler

On3 reports Penn State is expected to land a visit from Sigler, as well as Auburn, Oklahoma and Florida State.
The Alabama native had 35 tackles and five sacks in his first year at Arkansas State after transferring from West Alabama.

Colorado edge rusher Alexander McPherson

Penn State, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss and Auburn are “early schools of interest,” per 247Sports.
McPherson was a three-star recruit in the 2025 class. Made 15 tackles this year.

Iowa State offensive lineman Kuol Kuol

Will visit Penn State this weekend, per On3.
Centerville, Ohio, native was a three-star prospect in 2025. Redshirted his freshman season.

Iowa State defensive lineman Alijah Carnell

Will visit Penn State this weekend, per On3.
Made six tackles and a half sack in 11 games this past season.

Iowa State quarterback Alex Manske

Was the sixth-highest-rated recruit in Iowa State history.

Michigan State running back Makhi Frazier

Two-year Spartan will visit Penn State starting Jan. 6, per On3.
Had 520 rushing yards and two touchdowns this year.

Iowa State offensive lineman Vaea Ikakoula

On3 reports he will visit Happy Valley, starting Saturday.

Colorado defensive back Noah King

King will take a visit to Penn State starting Jan. 6, per 247Sports.
Well-regarded four-star out of Hamilton, Ohio, in 2025 class. Signed with Kansas State but transferred to Colorado before spring ball. Took a redshirt year.

OUTGOING PENN STATE VISITS/RUMORS

JAN. 4 NOTES:

Running back Corey Smith

Set to visit Boise State and Virginia Tech, per 247Sports.

Defensive end Chaz Coleman

LSU, Ohio State and Tennessee are battling for the Ohio native’s services.

Defensive end Daniel Jennings

247Sports has predicted Jennings will follow James Franklin to Virginia Tech.
UPDATE: Jennings has committed to Virginia Tech.

Offensive lineman Alex Birchmeier

Has set visits to Liberty, Temple and San Diego State.

Defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam

Narrowed a large list of suitors to Notre Dame, Indiana and Tennessee.

Linebacker Kari Jackson

Wide receiver Jeff Exinor Jr.

Plans to visit Virginia Tech and James Franklin, per 247Sports.

JAN. 2 NOTES:

Safety King Mack

With the Volunteers, Mack would reunite with former PSU safeties coach Anthony Poindexter and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.

Defensive end Chaz Coleman

The standout 2025 freshman is from Warren, Ohio, and is largely expected to land at Ohio State.

Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer

On3 is labeling James Franklin’s Virginia Tech as the early school to watch for Grunkemeyer.

Defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam

On3 is reporting a big list of potential suitors for Gilliam. Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Indiana, Oklahoma, Missouri and LSU are “schools to watch.”
247Sports reported Indiana is set to receive a visit from Gilliam.
247Sports followed up with visit reports for Notre Dame and Texas A&M.

Offensive lineman Eagan Boyer

Set to visit Florida and former PSU O-line coach Phil Trautwein, per 247Sports.

Tight end Luke Reynolds

Reynolds reportedly entered the portal with a “do not contact tag,” and he’s also received predictions to join James Franklin at Virginia Tech.

Offensive lineman TJ Shanahan Jr.

Shanahan is among those visiting Florida and former OL coach Phil Trautwein, per multiple reports. Trautwein was key in his original recruitment to Penn State as a Texas A&M transfer.

Missouri QB Beau Pribula scrambling vs. Arkansas (2025)

FORMER PENN STATE PLAYERS TRANSFERRING AGAIN

JAN. 2 NOTES:

Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula

Pribula, the York, Pennsylvania, native, has Virginia Tech (James Franklin) and Georgia Tech as schools to watch, per multiple reports.
The QB transferred to Missouri this past season and spent one year as the starter.