Here’s which Penn State players won’t be playing in Saturday’s Pinstripe Bowl
Penn State is in New York for the Pinstripe Bowl but will be without some key players in the game. The Nittany Lions have had several players opt out of the game, while others have left the team with the intention of entering the transfer portal when it opens on Jan. 2.
There are other players who could be on limited snap counts (like running back Kaytron Allen) and others who could choose not to participate, but here are the players who will not be playing in the game.
Opt-outs
DT Zane Durant: Durant has elite power and athleticism despite being undersized, and will leave an important void in the middle of the defensive line Saturday. He is out of eligibility.
S Zakee Wheatley: Wheatley was the most consistent defensive player the team had this season and excelled in pass coverage and against the run. He is also out of eligibility.
RB Nick Singleton: Singleton had an up and down season in his final year at Penn State, but is still one of the best big-play threats the Nittany Lions have. He is out of eligibility.
OG Vega Ioane: Ioane was the best player on the team this season and could end up being the first guard off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft. He is foregoing his remaining eligibility to enter the draft.
Entering the transfer portal
TE Joey Schlaffer: Schlaffer left the program in November and did not play a role in the offense this season.
CB Elliot Washington II: Washington was a key part of the defense at times throughout his career and saw plenty of playing time this year, but he was unable to put it all together to be a high-end corner consistently.
DE Chaz Coleman: Coleman might be the biggest loss this offseason when it’s all said and done. He has enormous upside thanks to his physical tools and could end up being one of the best pass rushers in the country.
IOL Alex Birchmeier: Birchmeier struggled to crack the rotation on the offensive line, despite being a high level recruit coming out of high school.
CB AJ Harris: Harris was elite in 2024 but inconsistent in 2025 and was benched for stretches this season. He’s a major loss for the program regardless, and could have a big 2026 season elsewhere.
DE Zuriah Fisher: Fisher is no longer with the team but could have an additional year of eligibility. He will likely enter the transfer portal and play a potential seventh season of college football elsewhere.
LB Kari Jackson: Jackson couldn’t find his way onto the field despite the team lacking linebacker depth this season.
DE Daniel Jennings: Jennings reclassified from the 2026 class to the 2025 class and enrolled prior to this season. He could end up as a defensive tackle in the long run.
Injury
LB Alex Tatsch: Tatsch will not play in the game due to an injury, according to a source, and as reported first by On3’s Sean Fitz. He was one of the linebackers who stepped up after Tony Rojas suffered a season-ending injury in the week leading up to the UCLA game in October.
