This week marked the arrival of Penn State football’s latest wave of newcomers. It’s a group that consists of two transfers, wide receiver Trebor Pena (Syracuse) and Amare Campbell (North Carolina), as well as 10 freshmen who hadn’t enrolled early to join the program in January.
Almost the entirety of James Franklin’s 2025 recruiting class is now listed on the team’s roster. That is, except for two players, running back Jabree Wallace-Coleman and defensive end Daniel Jennings, who are set to arrive on campus at a later date. There are currently 27 total freshmen enrollees. Wallace-Coleman and Jennings will make it 29.
Here’s a look at the measurables, published on the online roster, for the 12 new Nittany Lions.
TRANSFERS
WR Trebor Pena: 5-foot-10, 185 pounds
LB Amare Campbell: 6-foot, 230 pounds
Notes: The two most notable additions of Franklin’s 2025 transfer portal haul, Pena and Campbell won’t need much time to assimilate their frames, given their multiple years of experience in the ACC. They’ll be asked to contribute immediately, Pena as a leading slot receiver and Campbell, most likely, as Jim Knowles’ go-to middle linebacker.
FRESHMEN
OL Malachi Goodman: 6-foot-6, 310 pounds
OL Brady O’Hara: 6-foot-6, 250 pounds
WR Jeff Exinor Jr.: 6-foot-1, 220 pounds
LB Cam Smith: 6-foot, 200 pounds
DE Cortez Harris: 6-foot-3, 205 pounds
DE Chaz Coleman: 6-foot-4, 220 pounds
CB Jahmir Joseph: 6-foot, 180 pounds
CB Joshua Johnson: 6-foot-2, 185 pounds
CB Xxavier Thomas: 5-foot-11, 175 pounds
TE Matt Henderson: 6-foot-5, 215 pounds
Notes: After missing out on Penn State’s winter conditioning program, a majority of these freshmen will unsurprisingly need to undergo some significant work over the next three months. Others, like top-ranked recruit Malachi Goodman, stand out with game-ready builds that could fast-track their development before the season begins.
The Nittany Lions are set to return four of five starters on the offensive line, but Goodman — with a frame that mirrors his new teammates — could contest for playing time early into his freshman year. Jeff Exinor Jr., as well as cornerbacks Jahmir Joseph, Xxavier Thomas and Joshua Johnson also appear to possess frames that shouldn’t need much alteration.
Goodman’s positional counterpart, Brady O’Hara, will need to add a ton of weight as he makes the transition from tight end to full-time offensive lineman. The same can be said for defensive end Cortez Harris, who is currently Penn State’s slimmest edge rusher by about 20 pounds, as well as tight end Matt Henderson.
There remains a need for depth at linebacker, even with the addition of Campbell, and Cam Smith could help quell those concerns, but will also be tasked with adding at least 20 pounds to physically compete for playing time with his more-experience peers. Luckily for Smith, strength coach Chuck Losey has an extensive track record at guiding quick body transformations.
FRESHMAN YET TO ENROLL:
DE Daniel Jennings: 6-foot-2, 250 pounds
RB Jabree Wallace-Coleman: 6-foot, 200 pounds
Daniel Jennings, who opted out of his senior year of high school and signed as part of the Nittany Lions’ 2025 recruiting class, is physically well ahead of the curve. It’s not common to find freshmen defensive line with adequate builds for Big Ten play, let alone those who are supposed to be a year behind developmentally.
Jabree Wallace-Coleman has a stocky build that could compare to that of Kaytron Allen’s once he adds some more weight. With Allen and Nick Singleton back for a fourth and final season, competing for playing time in 2025 could be a difficult task for a freshman like Wallace-Coleman. So, this year should be all about preparing for what is likely to be a grueling competition in 2026.
