It’s officially transfer portal day, and Matt Campbell is dealing with a rough stretch after a mass exodus that started last night. The PSU locker room has been thinning out fast. But amid all that chaos, the Nittany Lions finally caught a break under the new staff.

According to the latest reports, kicker Ryan Barker is coming back. The redshirt sophomore quietly put together a stellar season, going 18-for-19 on field goals and 44-for-45 on extra points. In the middle of all the departures, getting that kind of consistency to return is a huge sigh of relief for PSU.

Barker made it official on the morning of Jan. 2, just hours after the transfer portal opened at midnight.

“I’m excited to announce that I will be returning to Penn State for the 2026 season to continue this incredible journey,” he shared in his statement.

The numbers back it up, too. Even more impressive, he now holds the best career field goal percentage in Nittany Lion history at 89.2%. The redshirt sophomore’s rise has been quick. He took over kicking duties midway through last season as a walk-on, played lights-out, and earned a scholarship along the way. He capped the year with three field goals in the Pinstripe Bowl win over Clemson. After that, he made it clear that he wanted to stick around.

Now, Barker gets to do just that, returning to Happy Valley and gearing up to kick under new head coach Matt Campbell.

“I’ve had one really good conversation with (Campbell) so far, and he thinks the world of me,” Barker said on Dec. 27. “I think he’s a great coach, and I think he’s going to lead us to success.”

Along with Barker, several key contributors have chosen to return, providing Penn State with much-needed stability. Getting Anthony Donkoh back solidifies the offensive line, while wide receiver Koby Howard’s return keeps a late-season playmaker in the mix. On defense, a healthy Tony Rojas is a big win, and the continued rise of true freshman corner Daryus Dixson adds promise to the secondary.

Penn State also brings back tight end Andrew Rappleyea, offensive lineman Cooper Cousins, defensive end Max Granville, and veteran corner Audavion Collins. Add in returnees like Ty Blanding, Dejuan Lane, Alex Tatsch, Garrett Sexton, Chimdy Onoh, and Owen Aliciene. So there’s still a solid core for Matt Campbell to build around.

Happy Valley becomes empty

The NCAA transfer portal officially opened on Jan. 2, 2026, and Penn State immediately felt the impact. Redshirt sophomore running back Cam Wallace was among the first to go, according to On3, seeking more carries after sitting behind established backs in 2025. Soon after, offensive lineman Eagan Boyer followed him out, becoming the third PSU lineman to enter the portal.

This wave didn’t come out of nowhere. More than 20 players had already signaled their intent to leave before the portal even opened. It’s a clear sign of the uncertainty following James Franklin’s firing and Matt Campbell’s arrival from Iowa State. The defensive side took some of the hardest hits, including elite freshman edge rusher Chaz Coleman, now the No. 4 overall portal prospect per 247Sports, and five-star corner A.J. Harris.

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The quarterback room also took a major blow. Four-star QBs Ethan Grunkemeyer and Bekkem Kritza both entered the portal. It significantly depletes the depth chart to just one scholarship QB: early enrollee Peyton Falzone. Grunkemeyer completed 69.1% of his passes in limited action. He is reportedly searching for a clearer path to starting reps elsewhere.

Elsewhere, offensive lineman J’Ven Williams, wide receivers Jeff Exinor Jr. and Josiah Brown, and defensive end Jaylen Harvey all moved on, citing depth chart roadblocks and staff turnover. Tight end Joey Schlaffer had already left midseason after Franklin’s dismissal, adding to the sense of a program in flux.

The timing hasn’t helped. With the single transfer window (Jan. 2–16), and more than 30 seniors departing, roster decisions have been fast and unforgiving. Campbell now faces the challenge of rebuilding quickly. He potentially needs to dip into familiar Iowa State territory. And he also needs to keep key pieces like linebacker Tony Rojas and offensive lineman Anthony Donkoh in Happy Valley.