This article has been updated as of May 13, 2026 to remove encoding errors and clarify the coaching timeline. The original version mixed verified facts with uncertain language around the defensive coordinator situation.
Transfer Portal Updates
Penn State’s December roster churn included offensive lineman Alex Birchmeier and defensive end Chaz Coleman.
Onward State reported on December 19, 2025 that Birchmeier planned to enter the transfer portal, citing CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer. The report listed him with two years of eligibility remaining and said he had played in 26 games across the previous two seasons, including 10 in 2025.
StateCollege.com also reported Birchmeier’s portal plan and described his Penn State tenure as limited from a snap-count perspective, despite his high recruiting profile as a 2023 signee.
Coleman’s portal decision was reported on December 18. Onward State, StateCollege.com, and On3-linked reports described him as a true freshman edge defender with three years of eligibility remaining. Onward State listed his 2025 production as eight tackles, one sack, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and a pass deflection.
Postseason Opt-Out Context
The postseason roster was also affected by NFL Draft preparation. Zane Durant and Zakee Wheatley were among the defensive players moving toward the draft process, while Nicholas Singleton and Olaivavega Ioane had also become part of Penn State’s NFL-bound group.
Those decisions mattered because the Clemson bowl game became a look at a thinner, younger, and transitional roster. Penn State still beat Clemson 22-10, but the roster context should be described as a transition moment rather than a complete preview of the 2026 team.
Poindexter’s Defensive Role
Centre Daily Times’ December 2025 staff tracker listed Anthony Poindexter as Penn State’s Pinstripe Bowl defensive coordinator. StateCollege.com’s postgame recap also referenced a fourth-down blitz call from interim defensive coordinator Poindexter in the 22-10 win over Clemson.
That is the cleanest wording. The article should not speculate about unrelated coordinator names. The verified bowl context is that Poindexter handled the interim defensive coordinator role while Penn State transitioned from the 2025 staff to Matt Campbell’s 2026 staff.
What Changed Afterward
The later roster picture moved quickly. Matt Campbell’s first staff brought in new coordinators and position coaches, and the January portal class added players across quarterback, receiver, defensive line, linebacker, defensive back, and specialist groups. That means this December tracker should not be read as the final 2026 roster map.
Its value is historical. It captures the moment when the outgoing roster, the postseason lineup, and the incoming coaching era overlapped. Birchmeier and Coleman were early portal signals. Durant, Wheatley, Singleton, and Ioane were part of the NFL-bound wave. Poindexter’s role explained how Penn State handled defensive play-calling for the season finale before the new staff fully took over.
Why It Matters
The December 20 snapshot matters because it shows the overlap of three different timelines: the outgoing 2025 roster, the Pinstripe Bowl staff, and the incoming Campbell era. Transfer portal exits affected depth. NFL Draft opt-outs affected the bowl lineup. Staff changes affected who called the game.
For current site coverage, the tracker should be used as an archive of the transition period, not as a live 2026 depth chart. Many players listed here either left Penn State, entered the NFL process, or were replaced in the roster conversation by later transfer additions.
Sources and update notes
This update was checked against Onward State’s Birchmeier report, StateCollege.com’s Birchmeier report, Onward State’s Coleman report, StateCollege.com’s Coleman report, Centre Daily Times’ December 2025 staff tracker, and StateCollege.com’s Pinstripe Bowl recap.