Penn State’s 2025 roster is almost complete, as it welcomed its latest roster additions to campus.
The newest Nittany Lions consisted of 12 players headlined by 10 freshmen, and rounded out by the two spring transfer additions.
Here are players to watch for in the latest group of arrivals.
Trebor Peña, wide receiver
Penn State only had two additions in the spring transfer portal window, but no addition for the overall 2025 roster was arguably bigger than Trebor Peña.
The former All-ACC wide receiver for Syracuse is coming off of a campaign where he caught 84 passes for 941 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s listed on the roster page as 5-foot-10, 185 pounds.
Peña will likely compete and take over the starting slot gig, giving Penn State a veteran presence heading into his sixth year of college football. He’s a versatile player that frequently went in motion for the Orange, giving offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki another chess piece in his play calling.
In the Blue-White Game that featured a revamped format and the first look inside Beaver Stadium, Peña was arguably the biggest news of the day, committing hours before kickoff. Peña, alongside the two winter transfer portal additions at wide receiver in Devonte Ross and Kyron Hudson, should be the favorites to start with Liam Clifford, Kaden Saunders and Tyseer Denmark in the mix as well.
Amare Campbell, linebacker
The second addition from the transfer portal came on the other side of the ball, and a position that James Franklin made a plea for help at in the portal in former North Carolina linebacker Amare Campbell.
Campbell is coming off of a 2024 campaign where he tallied 76 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, two pass breakups and a forced fumble. He wore the green dot for the Tar Heels, giving defensive coordinator Jim Knowles an option to call the plays.
Defensive end Amin Vanover (15) raises the trophy after the College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl between Penn State and Boise State on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The Nittany Lions beat the Broncos 31-14.
Kate Hildebrand
He’s listed at 6-foot, 230 pounds, and is a Virginia native. Linebacker Tony Rojas and defensive tackle Zane Durant both recruited Campbell to Penn State when he hit the portal via social media.
Penn State’s linebacker room is thin with experience, having no true players outside of Rojas and Dom DeLuca who have seen sizable snaps. Campbell along with the aforementioned duo should be the preseason favorites to see the most work with Anthony Speca and Keon Wylie right behind them.
Malachi Goodman, offensive tackle
Malachi Goodman stood next to injured offensive tackle Anthony Donkoh as Penn State warmed up during the Blue-White Game. Despite wearing a field credential and donning street clothes, Goodman physically stacked up next to Donkoh.
He arrived at campus for Year 1 as a Nittany Lion listed at 6-foot-6, 321 pounds, which is 11 pounds heavier than his 310 listing during National Signing Day.
Goodman is the second-high ranked freshman in the 2025 recruiting class, trailing just tight end Andrew Olesh. The 4-star is the No. 56 player nationally, No. 9 offensive tackle and No. 2 player in New Jersey via the 247Sports composite rankings. He is a 5-star prospect via the 247Sports ratings.
The Penn State offensive tackle room is deep between the veteran presences in Donkoh, Nolan Rucci, Drew Shelton and the younger J’Ven Williams and Eagan Boyer. It might be hard for Goodman to crack the two-deep, but with an impressive summer, injuries or the need to play one of the previously stated players at guard, there’s a ton of ways Goodman can become a key bench piece.
Chaz Coleman, defensive end
Chaz Coleman didn’t pick up a Penn State offer until Sept. 18, but the Nittany Lions took note of him earlier than a handful of Power 4 schools, as Coleman became one of the fastest rising recruits in the country during his senior season.
The explosive defensive end took an official visit on Nov. 8, committing two days later. The Ohio native picked up an offer from Ohio State 10 days after his pledge to the Nittany Lions, but Penn State was able to fend off the Buckeyes despite a late push.
Blue-white 2025, alma mater
Penn State football players sing the alma mater together after the 2025 Blue-White Game at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, April 26, 2025 in University Park, Pa. The White team beat the Blue team 10-8.
Samantha Oropeza
Coleman is listed at 6-foot-4, 235 pounds and played quarterback and basketball to go along with his defensive end background. The 4-star is the No. 292 player nationally, No. 30 EDGE and No. 9 player in Ohio.
Penn State’s defensive end room projects to be headlined by Dani Dennis-Sutton, Max Granville and Zuriah Fisher with spots behind them up for grabs. Of the five freshmen 4-star defensive ends, Coleman as well as early enrollee Yvan Kemajou physically lead the way in the group to potentially see time next year.
Cam Smith, linebacker
Penn State didn’t initially have Cam Smith on board for its linebacker room in the 2025 recruiting class, as the staff had to pry him away from Duke and former Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz.
Eventually the Nittany Lions pulled it off, getting Smith to flip from the Blue Devils. In turn, James Franklin and Co. landed a player from St. Joseph’s Prep, making it the first player to pledge to Penn State from the Philadelphia powerhouse since safety John Reid in 2014.
The 6-foot, 260-pound freshman is ranked as the No. 367 player nationally, No. 40 linebacker and No. 10 player in Pennsylvania.
The 4-star will be competing in a linebacker room that doesn’t have any experience outside of Rojas, DeLuca and Campbell. Speca and Wylie are frontrunners to fill in for Ta’Mere Robinson, who transferred to USC. Other names to watch for time are DaKaari Nelson and Kari Jackson. It’s truly up for grabs, though Smith will have to start by getting up to speed with fellow freshmen and early enrollees in LaVar Arrington II and Alex Tatsch.
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