Penn State Football: 2022-2023 transfer portal departures tracker

Let’s take an updated look at the Penn State football transfer portal tracker.

The NCAA’s transfer portal is a game-changer for players and more and more players seem to be taking advantage of the opportunity to explore all of their options. Penn State has been a program that has sent a number of players to other schools by way of the transfer portal, some with more success than others, but the Nittany Lions have also caught on to the importance of tapping talent from the transfer portal to plug some holes on the roster.

Penn State head coach James Franklin has expressed his growing concerns over the way the transfer portal is treated by programs around the country, and how the pressure to focus on just football impacts the whole process. He’s not necessarily wrong on that account, but he may also b a bit frustrated knowing every year his program will lose players through the whole process when he can be focusing his energy on preparing for a bowl game or the early signing period on the recruiting calendar.

Here is a look at each player from Penn State’s roster that has been announced or been reported to be in the NCAA transfer portal.

Former Penn State defensive lineman announces transfer destination

Former Penn State defensive lineman is heading to the ACC out of the transfer portal

Louisville recently hired away former Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm for a homecoming of sorts to be its next head coach. And Brohm is wasting no time in bringing in a little more Big Ten flavor to the Cardinals program. On Sunday, former Penn State defensive lineman [autotag]Rodney McGraw[/autotag] announced he is committed to the Louisville program as his next stop out of the NCAA transfer portal.

“Thank you to Penn State for an awesome 2 years,” McGraw said in a brief social media post on his Twitter account. “I’m happy to announce that I am 100% committed to The University of Louisville. I can’t wait to get on campus and get to work.”

McGraw announced his entry into the NCAA transfer portal in early December following the conclusion of Penn State’s regular season. As previously confirmed, McGraw will have three years of eligibility remaining to use at Louisville.

Mcgraw is the second former Penn State player in the transfer portal to commit to an ACC school in as many days. Quarterback [autotag]Christian Veilleux[/autotag] announced on Sunday he is transferring to Pitt.

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Rodney McGraw enters transfer portal

Penn State defensive lineman officially enters transfer portal.

Monday was the first day the NCAA transfer portal officially opened up for the college football masses, and a handful of Penn State players began the process of evaluating their options for their college football future. Among the names entered into the transfer portal on Monday was defensive lineman [autotag]Rodney McGraw[/autotag], according to Lions247.

McGraw will have three years of eligibility to use wherever he ends up next. McGraw was a three-star addition in Penn State’s Class of 2021. With a pretty well-stocked defensive line, playing time was and would appear to be difficult to come by for McGraw.

McGraw made his intention to enter the transfer portal public on Sunday with a message posted to his Twitter account.

“Thank you Penn State for an incredible experience, McGraw said in a social media posting over the weekend, when he announced his intent to enter the transfer portal. “I’m extremely appreciative of my time in Happy Valley. I believe it’s in my best interest to enter the transfer portal at this time.”

McGraw, from Indiana, originally committed to Penn State over offers from Indiana, Cincinnati, Ball State, and Central Michigan.

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PJ Mustipher finding other ways to lead while continuing rehab

New Penn State defensive cooridnator Manny Diaz is among those impressed with the leadership of rehabbing PJ Mustipher this spring.

Penn State’s defensive line has been a fairly consistent unit over the years, and one where the ability to create playmakers has been demonstrated routinely. A year removed from sending [autotag]Odafe Oweh[/autotag] off to the first round of the NFL draft, the eyes are on [autotag]Arnold Ebiketie[/autotag] to see if he can sneak into the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. Meanwhile, in State College, [autotag]PJ Mustipher[/autotag] is coming back for one more season with Penn State with the hopes of becoming another early-round draft pick. But before that, he needs to continue rehabbing from a knee injury that has placed him on the sidelines this spring.

Despite being inactive on the practice field, Mustipher has been providing the kind of leadership that he will be relied on in his sixth season of eligibility. And it did not take long for Mustipher to show new defensive coordinator [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] why he will be a valuable asset to the defensive line.

“[Mustipher] is not even practicing but, man, you feel his presence every day,” Diaz said to reporters, according to Lions 247. “And he makes sure that he’s on the defensive lineman. He’s on the defense in general.”

Mustipher has been helping to keep his teammates fired up and driving to improve this spring. Among those benefitting from Mustipher’s leadership and encouragement has been newcomer Zane Durant, who has been raising eyebrows this spring after enrolling early with other members of the Class of 2022.

The defensive line looks to be one of the most exciting position groups for Penn State in 2022, and the eventual return of a healthy Mustipher will be a key part of that equation. The early opportunity for Durant to get involved will be helpful, as will the eventual arrivals of [autotag]Dani Dennis-Sutton[/autotag] (five-star addition in the Class of 2022) and Maryland transfer [autotag]Demeioun Robinson[/autotag].

Despite not having any of those three players in the Blue-White Game, the entire defensive line unit will be worth watching in the Penn State spring game. The unit did lose promising Zuriah Fisher for the 2022 season due to a spring injury recently, but eyes will be on [autotag]Adisa Isaac[/autotag] (who is coming off his own injury from last season) and [autotag]Nick Tarburton[/autotag]. The Blue-White Game should also be a good opportunity for other players to get some good playing time, including [autotag]Smith Vilbert[/autotag], [autotag]Rodney McGraw[/autotag], and [autotag]Amin Vanover[/autotag].

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Penn State jersey numbers for new football players

Penn State has updated the jersey numbers for freshmen football players and some new transfer players

While some programs may play some offseason gimmicks of forcing players to earn their jersey number or a helmet decal, Penn State doesn’t mess around with such uniform motivations. And on Friday, Penn State confirmed the jersey numbers to be worn by every incoming freshman or transfer player being added to the roster this fall.

Penn State has already given some new players an official jersey number, including those who enrolled early and participated in spring football. But a couple of new additions to the program this summer now have their official jersey numbers as well.

Here’s a look at the official jersey numbers for a number of the newest Nittany Lions;

  • No. 4 – CB Kalen King
  • No. 6 – CB Zakee Wheatley
  • No. 7 – S Jaylen Reed
  • No. 9 – QB  Christian Veilleux
  • No. 14 – CB A.J. Lytton
  • No. 17 – TE Khalil Dinkins
  • No. 18 – DE Davon Townley Jr.
  • No. 24 – CB Jeffrey Davis Jr.
  • No. 28 – LB Dominic Deluca
  • No. 41 – LB Kobe King
  • No. 42 – LB Jamari Buddin
  • No. 52 – DT Jordan Van Den Berg
  • No. 58 – OL Landon Tengwall
  • No. 68 – OL Eric Wilson
  • No. 82 – WR Liam Clifford
  • No. 85 – WR Harrison Wallace III
  • No. 90 – DE Rodney McGraw
  • No. 94 – K Sander Sahaydak

Penn State will begin preseason camp on August 6. Penn State’s season opener will be played on September 4 at Wisconsin. The game will be FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff.

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Michigan recruits invade Ann Arbor for annihilation of MSU

The Wolverines hosted several top-targets to campus for the 44-10 beatdown of Michigan State.

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan recruiting might be quiet lately, but Saturday’s guest list certainly wasn’t of the quiet variety.

Several Michigan commits, top targets and prospects made their way to campus to take in the Wolverines stunning 44-10 beatdown of Michigan State at the Big House.

Naturally, the biggest name on deck was four-star tight end Theo Johnson, who hails from Windsor (ONT) Holy Names, and has been a frequent visitor to campus. Johnson will be making a decision soon, and it looks to be a Michigan – Penn State battle for his services.

But there were a handful of 2021 four-stars on-hand, to go along with 2020 commits Roman Wilson, Blake Corum and Braiden McGregor (not pictured) as well as 2021 commit Giovanni El-Hadi. Among the four-stars included local names such as Rocco Spindler and Garrett Dellinger — both from Clarkston (MI) — and Ohio product A.J. Kirk Jr. and Indiana TE Rodney McGraw.

WolverinesWire was on the scene to capture some of the prospects who made it to town for the game.

Michigan commit Roman Wilson
2022 Zeeland (MI) East OLB Tag Bonnema
2020 Windsor (ONT) Holy Names four-star TE Theo Johnson
2021 Clarkston (MI) four-star OG Garrett Dellinger
2021 Clarkston (MI) four-star OT/DT Rocco Spindler
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