Penn State football concluded its regular season with a thrilling win at Rutgers in late November.
There have not been many dull days for the Nittany Lions in December, either.
PennLive has you covered when it comes to opt-outs and staff changes involving the Penn State program.
There will be plenty of news of player movement and coaching turnover as new Penn State head coach Matt Campbell continues to build his 2026 coaching staff.
Here is a PSU roster tracker update as of Wednesday morning:
New Penn State head football coach Matt Campbell speaks as Athletic Director Pat Kraft looks on during a press conference at Beaver Stadium. Dec. 8, 2025.
Joe Hermitt | [email protected]Joe Hermitt | [email protected]
MATT CAMPBELL’S STAFF TAKING SHAPE
Let’s start here today with Tuesday’s news that Campbell has added a couple more coaches from this Iowa State staff to his 2026 Penn State coaching staff.
— Cyclones wide receivers coach Noah Pauley will have the same title at Penn State, per reports from On3. Pauley helped develop ISU wideouts and 2025 NFL draft picks Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, who had monster years during the Cyclones’ 11-win 2024 season.
Pauley’s arrival likely means Marques Hagans’ time in State College is up as wideouts coach. Wideout production has been an issue at Penn State the last three years.
— Campbell also has his quarterbacks coach. It will be former Iowa State assistant Jake Waters, who coached the ISU quarterbacks in 2024 and 2025.
Waters was an accomplished quarterback during his Kansas State playing days.
Oregon offensive linesman Nick Cody (61), Marcus Mariota (8), Hroniss Grasu (55) and Ryan Clanton (60) line up against Arizona State during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)AP
— Earlier, Penn State has announced the official hirings of 10 staff members who will work for Campbell, three of them coaches: offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser, offensive line coach Ryan Clanton and defensive backs coach Deon Broomfield.
— And don’t forget about Penn State interim head coach Terry Smith, who will be part of Campbell’s 2026 staff in a position still to be determined.
Here is a closer look at Mouser’s background.
Here are some notes on Clanton.
Here is a closer look at Broomfield’s background.
NEWS FROM THE TRANSFER PORTAL
The transfer portal does not open until early January but news is beginning to leak out involving promiment players who will be seeking new homes in 2026.
— One name to know is veteran offensive lineman Tellek Lockette, who previously played at Louisiana-Monroe and Texas State.
Per Chad Simmons of On3, Penn State and Auburn are two teams showing significant interest in adding Lockette.
2025 PLAYER UPDATES
— Redshirt junior guard Vega Ioane, a potential first-round pick, announced late last week he was opting out of the Pinstripe Bowl and declaring for the 2026 NFL draft. Ioane was a first-team All-Big Ten choice this season.
— Fourth-year senior running back Nick Singleton will opt out of the Pinstripe Bowl, per a Thursday report by longtime Penn State columnist/beat reporter Rich Scarcella.
Singleton, a five-star signee from Governor Mifflin in Pennsylvania, is No. 4 on the Lions’ all-time rushing list. He is the program leader in rushing touchdowns, total touchdowns and all-purpose yards
— Third-year junior corner Elliot Washington intends to enter the transfer portal, per a Thursday report from On3.
— Fifth-year safety Zakee Wheatley announced last Wednesday he is opting out of the Pinstripe Bowl to focus on the 2026 NFL draft.
— Fourth-year defensive tackle Zane Durant announced last week he is opting out of the Pinstripe Bowl to focus on the 2026 NFL draft.
— Durant also has accepted an invite to play in the Senior Bowl at the end of January.
— Defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton, running backs Kaytron Allen and Singleton, Wheatley and offensive lineman Drew Shelton have also accepted Senior Bowl invites.
Penn State offensive line coach Phil Trautwein during practice on Apr. 23, 2025.
Joe Hermitt | [email protected]Joe Hermitt | [email protected]
UPDATES INVOLVING 2025 COACHES
— It was learned late last week offensive line coach Phil Trautwein, who had been with PSU since the start of the 2020 season, would not return in 2026. Trautwein will join Florida’s staff as an O-line coach.
— After reports came out that Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles was expected to leave the program after one season to become Tennessee’s DC, it was confirmed Thursday Knowles would join the Volunteers’ program on a three-year deal.
— Penn State running backs coach Stan Drayton is leaving to become South Carolina’s running backs coach and assistant head coach.
— Lions tight end coach Ty Howle is expected to leave the program to become offensive coordinator for James Franklin at Virginia Tech.
— PSU quarterbacks coach Danny O’Brien also is joining Franklin with the Hokies.
Check back at PennLive for the latest PSU roster updates with the Lions’ prepping for their Pinstripe Bowl matchup with Clemson later this month.
