Former Lions having impact at new schools
Trending
There are 43 players from last year's Penn State roster playing elsewhere around college football this season.
A dozen players are now playing with James Franklin at Virginia Tech, three with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and safeties coach Anthony Poindexter at Tennessee, and the other 28 are all around the country.
Here is a look at some of the best of those transfers out of the program:
Luke Reynolds, TE, Virginia Tech: Reynolds was one of the toughest to lose as he's one of the top tight ends available in the country. He is delivering for the 6-2 Hokies with 50 catches for 493 yards and six touchdowns so far.
Ethan Grunkemeyer, QB, Virginia Tech: Grunkemeyer has completed 71 percent of his passes for 2,140 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Tyseer Denmark, WR, Virginia Tech: Denmark has appeared in every game for the Hokies. He has seven receptions for 66 yards for the season.
Keon Wylie, LB, Virginia Tech: Wylie is VT's leading tackler so far with 41 on the year. He's also contributed a sack and a fumble recovery.
Cortez Harris, DL, Virginia Tech: Harris, an edge rusher, has 18 tackles, five sacks, and a blocked kick.
Amare Campbell, LB, Tennessee: A year after leading the Lions in tackles, Campbell is doing the same thing with the Volunteers. Campbell has 52 total tackles, three sacks, and three pass break-ups.
Dejuan Lane, DB, Tennessee: Lane is also having quite a season for the 6-2 Vols with 36 tackles for the year, two sacks, three interceptions, and a fumble recovery.
Xavier Gilliam, DT, Tennessee: Gilliam was named a midseason first team All-American by multiple outlets. He has 26 total tackles, including 11.5 for a loss, six sacks, nine quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. He's a big PSU loss.
Kaden Saunders, WR, Southern Miss: Saunders has appeared in six games for the Golden Eagles, which are 2-5 on the year. The redshirt junior has 15 receptions for 197 yards for the year. He had seven catches for 138 yards on Oct. 6 at Troy.
King Mack, S, North Carolina State: Mack, who is playing at his third school in four years, has 21 total tackles and a pass breakup for the 3-4 Wolfpack.
Bishop Guilfoyle graduate Karson Kiesewetter, who had some special teams time with the Lions, is now playing defensive back at IUP.
A few others have joined their position coaches at their respective schools. Running back Jabree Coleman has joined coach Stan Drayton at South Carolina, while offensive linemen Eagan Boyer and T.J. Shanahan Jr. went to Florida with coach Phil Trautwein.
Also playing for Virginia Tech and Franklin are cornerback Kenny Woseley Jr., tight end Matt Henderson, offensive lineman Michael Troutman III, defensive linemen Randy Adirika, Daniel Jennings and Mylachi Williams, and wide receiver Jeff Exinor Jr.
Playing elsewhere around the country are quarterbacks Bekkem Kritza (Alabama A&M) and Jaxon Smolik (Temple), running back Corey Smith (Toledo), wide receivers Josiah Brown (Long Island), Anthony Ivey (San Jose State) and Matt Outten (Syracuse), tight end Andrew Olesh (Oregon), offensive linemen Brady O'Hara (Monmouth) and J'ven Williams (Charlotte), defensive linemen Kaleb Artis (Temple), Jaylen Harvey (North Carolina), Jordan Mayer (California University of Pennsylvania), Sam Siafa (Delaware), Owen Wafle (Duke) and Enai White (Oklahoma State), linebackers Da'Kaari Nelson (North Carolina State), Anthony Speca (Purdue) and Braswell Thomas (Central Connecticut), and defensive backs Antoine Belgrave-Shorter (Arizona State), Kolin Dinkins (Temple) and Lamont Payne Jr. (Delaware State).
Running back Tikey Hayes was in the Nebraska program, but was dismissed from the team in August.