Projecting Who's Staying and Who's Leaving from Penn State After Bowl Game

The offseason has begun for the Penn State Nittany Lions, who exited the College Football Playoff in the semifinals after a 27-24 loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl.

Once again, the program had a successful yet unsatisfying season. Penn State finished the regular season 11-1, snuck into the Big Ten Championship Game—where the team dropped a shootout to Oregon—and earned a trip to the inaugural 12-team Playoff.

However, the Nittany Lions lost to Ohio State for the eighth straight year. They fell behind early against Oregon in the conference title matchup and dropped yet another Top 5 matchup.

PSU rolled through the first two rounds of the CFP against SMU (38-10) and Boise State (31-14). However, the Nittany Lions then lost a heartbreaker to Notre Dame.

James Franklin and the coaching staff will assemble what should be a very competitive roster.

But there's no question the Nittany Lions are aiming for more.

Drew Allar, QB

There is a downside to Drew Allar's expected return, but more on that shortly. The veteran QB will provide a steady presence on the offense in 2025. Allar has consistently been subpar against top competition, and that narrative will persist into next season. Still, he's an experienced, productive player at the most important position.

Most of the Offensive Line

Although center Nick Dawkins and guard Sal Wormley are out of eligibility, the Nittany Lions return three-plus starters. All-Big Ten left guard Olaivavega Ioane is the standout, while tackles Drew Shelton, Anthony Donkoh and Nolan Rucci all played significant snaps in 2024. Cooper Cousins as a top backup at the interior spots, too. Penn State's blocking unit should be solid once again.

Next Wave of Corners

Florida transfer Jalen Kimber is gone, but Penn State should be stacked at corner as usual. Georgia transfer A.J. Harris emerged as a key player in 2024, while Cam Miller, Elliot Washington II, Zion Tracy and Audavion Collins each cycled through the rotation.

Beau Pribula, QB

This offseason, expect a discussion about the poor timing of December's transfer window. Beau Pribula's exit before the CFP showed the challenge facing players right now. The reality is, though, that Pribula headed into the portal because Allar indicated he would be return next season. Pribula worked into a gadget role in 2024 but is seeking an opportunity to become a full-time QB in 2025.

All-American Tight End

Penn State's factory will probably keep churning out tight ends, but Tyler Warren leaves a substantial void. He made an incredible impact in 2024, amassing 88 receptions for 1,062 yards and six touchdowns in the pre-CFP portion of the season. Warren added 191 yards with four scores on the ground and even passed for an 11th touchdown.

Many Key Defenders, Probably

I've been wrong plenty of times. As of this writing, though, I expect a defensive makeover. Kimber is out of eligibility, along with safety Jaylen Reed. Injured safety Kevin Winston Jr. has declared for the 2025 NFL draft, and All-American edge-rusher Abdul Carter is a virtual lock to follow suit. Edge-rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton, D-tackle Zane Durant and linebacker Kobe King may head to the NFL, too.

Reinforcements from the Portal

Penn State quickly picked up a commitment from USC receiver Kyron Hudson, a talented player at a position of need. He collected 38 catches for 462 yards and three touchdowns with the Trojans this season. It's fair to expect at least a handful of incoming transfers.

Another 4-Star Tight End

You're not going to believe this, but the Nittany Lions landed a talented tight end. This is the fourth straight recruiting cycle with a blue-chip signee at the position—and fourth consecutive time PSU kept the state's top prospect at home. Andrew Olesh is rated the No. 3 tight end in the 2025 class, also ranking 60th overall in the country.

The Rest of the 2025 Recruiting Class

Olesh is the headliner of a group that ranks 16th nationally. Penn State has inked 27 players out of high school, and 18 of those prospects hold a 4-star billing. Other top signees are cornerback Daryus Dixson (122nd overall) and offensive lineman Malachi Goodman (125th).