The fall from grace for the Penn State Nittany Lions has been tough. Entering this season, the team was the preseason second-best team in the country, had a loaded roster full of talent that skipped the NFL Draft, and was one of the favorites to win the national title.
Then, in Week 5, the team’s title dreams were stung by an overtime loss to Oregon. Two straight losses to unranked UCLA and Northwestern teams made the situation even worse, essentially removing the team from any postseason conversation.
Which Penn State Players Might Enter the Transfer Portal Following Franklin’s Firing?
With Franklin’s firing, Penn State players can enter the transfer portal without burning through eligibility. Which Nittany Lions stars could find themselves on new rosters next season?
Sources: Penn State has fired James Franklin.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 12, 2025
After the team loaded up their roster, hoping to stack the deck a little in favor of a national title run, this firing might lead to some players departing to search for another opportunity instead of committing to a new coach and a rebuild.
Tony Rojas, LB, Junior
Junior linebacker Tony Rojas, or rather his absence, has been a common theme for Penn State during their three-game skid. Injured in practice a couple of days after the Oregon loss, he had to miss the UCLA game. In that defeat, the Nittany Lions’ defense couldn’t stop anything, proving his importance to the unit.
With Franklin’s firing and Rojas’ recovery from an apparent leg injury, the player might decide to redshirt, giving him two more years of eligibility. It’s never easy to get drafted right after a season cut short by injury, so he could transfer, guilt-free, and go continue to build his resume for the NFL Draft.
Chaz Coleman, EDGE, Freshman
Chaz Coleman, another young defender on the Nittany Lions’ defense, is another potential departure. Before he suited up for Penn State, he was a highly touted recruit who even played some quarterback in high school.
MORE: 5 Candidates to Replace James Franklin After Penn State Fires Head Coach After Northwestern Loss
Penn State has a reputation for developing NFL-caliber defensive linemen, so he might decide to stay, but for a young player without many reps, he might decide to leave for a school with a more established defensive system.
Luke Reynolds, TE, Sophomore
Like defensive lineman, Penn State has had a string of solid tight ends in recent memory, capped off by current Indianapolis Colts rookie Tyler Warren. Luke Reynolds, a sophomore tight end for the Nittany Lions might want to stay and develop in State College, but the offense is surely to go through a transformation with Franklin’s firing.
Reynolds got a good amount of action this season, with four games started and 18 catches for 197 yards. At 6’4″, 250 pounds, he has the makings of a great tight end, wherever he ends up.
Cam Wallace, RB, Redshirt Sophomore
One of the most intriguing aspects of this “failed” experiment in State College was the disappointing outings by the two-headed running back monster of Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton. By going all-in on these two seniors, younger players like Cam Wallace didn’t see the field, tallying just six carries for 23 yards.
Wallace is a talented back, so if he wants to continue his growth, he might decide to leave for “greener pastures.” Still, part of the reason for Wallace’s lack of an increased role was an injury that he suffered earlier in the season, which led to him falling down the depth chart.
Jaxon Smolik, QB, Redshirt Sophomore
Like the running backs, Penn State went all-in on the quarterback this season after keeping Drew Allar from entering the NFL Draft. He dreamed of winning a national title and boosting his draft stock, but on Saturday, he got injured, ending his season prematurely.
Listed as the third-string QB before Allar went down, redshirt sophomore Jaxon Smolik will back up new starter Ethan Grunkemeyer. With Penn State’s season not looking as promising, the Nittany Lions will now just worry about getting through 205 safely.
Meanwhile, Smolik could look towards his next endeavor, where he could lead a Group of Five team.
