2025 PSU at Rutgers

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PSU 40 Rutgers 36

Game Stats

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Game Twelve—

Ethan Grunkemeyer QB

• Sixth start in place of the injured Drew Allar

• Game 12 Passing—17 of 21 for 209 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 1 sack (longest completion-53 yds. for TD)—Two-point Conversion Passing—0 of 1 for 0 pts. (on failed pass attempt intended for/dropped by eligible OT Drew Shelton in 3rd qtr. following Singleton TD)

• Game 12 Rushing—1 for minus -11 yards, 0 TD (long-0 yds.)—yards lost on sack

• Grunkemeyer 2025 Passing stats (through 12 games/10 played/6 starts)—100 of 144 for 1079 yards, Pct. 69.4%, 6 TDs, 4 INTs, 11 sacks (longest pass-75 yds. at Michigan State/best passing game-219 yds. vs. Indiana/most completions-22 vs. Indiana on career high 31 attempts)—Two-point Conversion Passing—0 of 1 for 0 pts. (on failed pass intended for/dropped by eligible OT Drew Shelton at Rutgers)

• Grunkemeyer 2025 passing vs. Big Ten only (7 games played/6 starts)—92 of 133 for 974 yards, Pct. 69.17%, 5 TDs, 4 INTs, 11 sacks (longest pass-75 yds. at Michigan State/best passing game-219 yds. vs. Indiana/most completions-22 vs. Indiana on career high 31 attempts)

• Grunkemeyer 2025 Rushing stats (through 12 games/10 played/6 starts)—31 for minus -35 yards, 1 TD (long-10 yds. at Michigan State)

• Grunkemeyer Career Passing stats (11 games played/6 starts)—101 of 146 for 1088 yards, Pct. 69.2%, 6 TDs, 5 INTs (long-75 yds. at Michigan State 2025)—Two-point Conversion Passing—0 of 1 for 0 pts. (on failed pass intended for/dropped by eligible OT at Rutgers 2025)

• Grunkemeyer Career Rushing stats (11 games played/6 starts)—31 for minus -35 yards, 1 TD (long-10 yds. at Michigan State 2025)

• Only 9th career game (8th in 2025) with passing stats—other two games played in 2025 saw Grunkemeyer on field for only 1 play in each (1 rush, 1 handoff)

• 5th straight game over 100+ yards passing (with two 200+ yard games vs. Indiana & at Rutgers)

• In final 3 games of regular season (all victories), Grunk threw for 517 yards with 4 TD passes and 0 INTs

• Three 20+ yard completions at Rutgers (18 on season)

• Grunkemeyer pass completion pct. of 69.4% in 2025 is best single season at PSU (minimum 100 pass attempts)

• TD pass at Rutgers—1st quarter 9:46 to go, 53 yards to Andrew Rappleyea TE (tied 7-7)—2nd straight game with TD pass to Rappleyea

• PSU was 5 for 6 in Red Zone at Rutgers—Offense generated 3 rushing TDs/1 passing TD/2 FGs (3rd game this season with 40+ points scored—1st since week 3 vs. Villanova) & 509 yards combined passing/rushing (most total yards by PSU since 518 vs. Oregon in 2024 Big Ten Championship Game)

• Grunkemeyer played more overall snaps than Allar this season in same number of starts

• Named 2025 Academic All-Big Ten

• Dec. 17 Zoom session with Media: Grunkemeyer says he has met with Matt Campbell and Taylor Mouser OC and says “nothing’s decided yet” about his future with Penn State, but will play in Pinstripe Bowl—Grunk confirms Trace McSorley will be the QB Coach in the Pinstripe Bowl and Grunk will play in the bowl

  Jaxon Smolik QB

• Smolik was injured (left arm/wrist) on a run play in the 4th period at Iowa—He was listed as OUT on the Big Ten Availability Report for the Rutgers game and has not played since the Iowa game on Oct. 18. 3rd-string QB Bekkem Kritza was also listed as OUT (Kritza did not play all season), and Liam Clifford WR served as QB2 at Rutgers.

• Game 12 Passing—0 of 0 for 0 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INT, 0 sacks (longest completion-0 yds.)

• Game 12 Rushing—0 for 0 yards, 0 TD (long-0 yds.)

• Smolik 2025 passing stats (through 12 games/3 played)—0 of 0 for 0 yards, Pct. 0.0%, 0 TD, 0 INT, 0 sacks—Two-point Conversion Passing: 0 of 1 for 0 pts. on failed pass attempt vs. Nevada (Smolik appeared as the holder for the PAT kick)

• Smolik 2025 rushing stats (through 12 games/3 played)—4 for 3 yards, 0 TD (long-3 yds. at Iowa)

• Most significant career game action: 11 snaps played/4 rushes/0 passes at Iowa 2025

Drew Allar QB

• Allar suffered a season-ending (and college career-ending) left ankle injury in the 4th quarter with 3:26 to go in the Oct. 11 loss to Northwestern when he was hit high and low on a QB keeper by 2 defenders (one appeared to dive with forearm into lower left leg) and Drew needed some assistance to walk off the field—James Franklin confirmed the severity, but not the specifics, of the injury in his Northwestern post-game news conference—Surgery on his broken left ankle took place on Oct. 15 in Atlanta and was successful—Allar has been with the team and travelled with them post-surgery—On a Nov. 20 Zoom session with media, Allar said his rehab was going well, but there was no specific timeline for recovery (NFL Scouting Combine begins Feb. 26, 2026)—On Nov. 22, Allar participated in Senior Day festivities and walked with a boot on his left foot, but without crutches (Allar later appeared using a single crutch on the sidelines)—Nov. 25-Allar has revealed in interview with ESPN that he is not eligible for a medical redshirt

• Allar 2025 passing stats (6 games/6 starts)—103 of 159 for 1100 yards, Pct. 64.8%, 8 TDs, 3 INT, 6 sacks (longest pass-67 yds. vs. Northwestern/best passing game-217 yds. vs. Nevada/most completions-22 vs. Nevada)

• Allar 2025 passing vs. Big Ten only (3 games/3 starts)—46 of 71 for 474 yards, Pct. 64.8%, 4 TDs, 2 INTs—also 1 rushing TD vs. Big Ten

• Allar 2025 rushing stats (6 games/6 starts)—36 for 172 yards, 1 TD (long-27 yds. at UCLA)

• Allar Career Passing Stats (45 games/35 starts)—633 of 1002 for 7402 yards, Pct. 63.2%, 61 TDs, 13 INT (longest pass-75 yds. vs. Ole Miss in 2023 Peach Bowl/best passing game-391 yds. at USC 2024/most completions-30 on career high 43 attempts at USC 2024/most TDs in single game-4 vs. Iowa 2023 & at Maryland 2023/longest TD pass-72 yds. vs. West Virginia 2023)—Allar has 2 pass attempts/completions to himself (passes batted back to him by defense) for 15 total yards in his career stats (2023 Peach Bowl vs. Ole Miss & 2025 vs. Villanova)—Allar 2-point conversion passing: 2 of 4 for 4 pts. (1 additional successful passing 2-pt. try negated by penalty in 2025 vs. FIU)

• Allar Career Rushing Stats (45 games/35 starts)—224 carries for 732 yards, 12 TDs (longest rush-27 yds. at UCLA 2025/best rushing game-78 yards on career high-tying 11 carries vs. UCLA 2025)

• Allar Career Receiving Stats (45 games/35 starts)—3 receptions for 15 yards, 0 TDs (long-10 yds. vs. Ole Miss in 2023 Peach Bowl on his pass batted-back by defense)—Allar has 2 career receptions on passes batted-back to him by defense (also vs. Villanova 2025)—Allar has only 1 career pass reception thrown by another player (Kaytron Allen vs. Michigan in 2023)

• Allar Career Points Scored: 72 pts. on 12 rushing TDs (Total points responsible for: 442 pts. in career)

• 26 victories as PSU starting Quarterback (2023-25)—Allar (26-9) is tied for 6th in QB wins all-time with John Hufnagel (26-3 from 1970-72)—PSU record held by Sean Clifford (2017-22) with 32 wins

• Allar has 7402 career passing yards (4th all-time at PSU)—Allar trails #3 Christian Hackenberg (2013-15) with 8457 yards passing

• Allar is 5th PSU QB to pass 1K career pass attempts: 1002 with 633 completions

• Allar’s career Pass Completion Pct. of 63.17% over 45 games is best at Penn State all-time (Sean Clifford is second at 61.43% in 51 games)

• Allar’s career Pass Interception Pct. of 1.29% over 45 games is best/lowest at Penn State all-time (Wally Richardson is second at 2.15% in 41 games with 16 career INTs in 744 attempts)

• Allar’s 61 career Passing TDs are 3rd all-time behind Sean Clifford 86, Trace McSorley 77—Allar’s single season best was 25 TD passes in 2023 (tied with Tony Sacca in 1991 for 3rd best/PSU record is 29 by Trace McSorley in 2016)

• Allar has 73 career TDs responsible for (3rd all-time behind Trace McSorley 107, Sean Clifford 101)

• 20 career games with 2+ TD passes (2 games with 4 TD passes—none in 2025)

• 10 career games with both a passing & rushing TD (none in 2025)

• 20 career games with 200+ yards passing (4 in 2025)—3 games with 300+ yards passing (none in 2025)

• Allar has 12 career rushing TDs: 6th all-time among QBs (officially)—PSU QB record is Trace McSorley with 30

• Estimated NIL earnings for 2025 season: $3.2 million

• Allar graduated at the end of the Fall 2025 semester

  CLICK HERE FOR PSU ALL-TIME TD PASSING LEADERS

  CLICK HERE FOR PSU ALL-TIME PASSING YARDS LEADERS

  Nick Singleton RB

• Game 12 Rushing—9 for 86 yards, 2 TDs (career high 13 TDs on season/PSU record 45 career rushing TDs)—(long-53 yds.)—this is his highest rushing yards total of the season with 2nd 50+ yard run of season (7th career 50+ yard rush)—Named 2025 All-Big Ten Offense Honorable Mention as RB (Media)

• Accepted invitation to the 2026 Senior Bowl/opted out of Pinstripe Bowl ending his PSU career/graduated after the Fall 2025 semester/Announced plans on Dec. 29 to enter 2026 NFL Draft

• Game 12 Receiving—2 for 23 yards, 0 TD (long-14 yds.)

• Game 12 Kick Returns—4 for 74 yards, 0 TD (long-23 yds.)—only 7 returns on season, 0 TDs (20.7 YPR)—Named 2025 All-Big Ten Special Teams Honorable Mention as Kick Returner (Coaches & Media)

• 2025 Rushing stats (12 total games)—123 for 549 yards, 13 TDs, 4.46 yards/carry (longest run-59 yards vs. Indiana/best rushing game-86 yds. at Rutgers/most carries-20 vs. Villanova)—first regular season without a 100+ yard rushing game (only 4 games with 70+ yards rushing in 2025)—only 6 games with 10+ carries—1st regular season with fewer than 700 yards rushing

• This was his best YPC in a game this season (9.56 YPC) and only his 4th game over 5.0 YPC in 2025 (3rd in his last 4 games)—his 183 all-purpose yards at Rutgers is best in 2025

• 2025 Receiving stats (12 total games)—24 receptions for 219 yards, 1 TD, 9.13 yards/catch (long-50 yds. vs. Nebraska-career best)—Career Receiving stats: 102 for 987 yds., 9 TDs, 9.68 yards/catch (long-50 yds. vs. Nebraska 2025)—Singleton’s 102 career receptions ties Saquon Barkley for PSU reception record by RBs

• Rushing TDs at Rutgers: 1st quarter 5:11 to go, 11 yards (PS leads 14-7) & 3rd quarter 0:54 to go, 1 yard (PS leads 33-28)—This is Singleton’s 13th career game with multiple TD runs

• Receiving TDs at Rutgers: None (only 1 on season vs. Indiana/9 in career)

• Singleton’s 13 rushing TDs on the season matched with Kaytron’s 15 rushing TDs means the RB duo have, for the second time, rushed for 10+ TDs each in the same season—This is only the third time that this has happened in PSU history with RB pairs (2022-Singleton 12 & Allen 10 and 1969-Charlie Pittman 10 & Franco Harris 10)—It has also happened twice with QB/RB combos in 2008 (Daryll Clark-10 & Evan Royster-12) & 2017 (Trace McSorley-11 & Saquon Barkley-18)

• Singleton is the 8th PSU player (7th RB) to score 10+ rushing TDs in back-to-back seasons (13 in 2025 & 12 in 2024)—Previously done by: Trace McSorley QB (11 in 2017 & 12 in 2018), Saquon Barkley (18 in 2016 & 18 in 2017), Curtis Enis (15 in 1996 & 19 in 1997), Richie Anderson (11 in 1991 & 18 in 1992), Curt Warner (10 in 1981 & 10 in 1982), John Cappelletti (12 in 1972 & 18 in 1973), and Charlie Pittman (15 in 1968 & 10 in 1969)

• 45 career rushing TDs—PSU ”Modified/Complete” stats including bowls have Singleton ahead of Saquon Barkley (43) for the all-time PSU record

• Singleton’s career total of 55 all-purpose TDs (45 rush/9 receiving/1 return) is first all-time at PSU passing Saquon Barkley’s total of 53 TDs (43 rushing/8 receiving/2 returns)

• Singleton’s career scoring total of 332 points (55 total TDs/1 two-point conversion reception in 2023 Peach Bowl from Pribula) leads Saquon Barkley’s 318 points (53 total TDs in 38 games), and Singleton is first all-time in scoring at PSU among non-kickers—PSU’s Kicker & all-time scoring record is 425 total points (417 pts. via kicking) by Kevin Kelly (2005-08) and includes a TD rush & a 2-point conversion run

• Singleton’s career rushing yards total is 3461 yards on 622 carries—Singleton is 6th all-time on Penn State’s “Modified/Complete” rushing list—He passed Curtis Enis (3375 yards) and DJ Dozier (3402 yards) and trails #5 Blair Thomas (3484 yards)—PSU’s all-time rushing yards record is 4180 yards on 769 carries by Kaytron Allen (record was established in the 2025 Nebraska game)—Singleton trails Allen by 719 yards

• Singleton has 24 career rushes of 20+ yards (16 of 30+, 14 of 40+, & 7 of 50+)

• Singleton career rushing yards per carry is 5.56 (53 total games played)

• Career All-Purpose yards from Scrimmage (rushing/receiving)-4448 yards with 54 TDs in 53 games played—Career All-Purpose yards (rushing/receiving/returns)-5586 yards with 55 TDs in 53 games played (This is the PSU all-time career all-purpose yards record passing Barkley’s 5538 total career all-purpose yards in 38 games played)

• Estimated NIL earnings for 2025 season: $1.8 million

  Kaytron Allen RB

• Game 12 Rushing—22 for 226 yards (career best), 1 TD (15 on season—career best/39 in career)—(long-55 yards)—he passes 1300-yard mark in rushing on the season (1,303 yards/2nd in Big Ten) which is 12th best single season rushing total at PSU and 8th best at PSU when only regular season rushing is considered—226 yards is Kaytron’s career high and the best rushing total by a PSU RB since Larry Johnson’s 279 yards vs. Michigan State in 2002

• Kaytron becomes Penn State’s first career 4-thousand-yard rusher in this game (4,180 yards) on 55-yard run in 1st quarter (officially the 23rd in Big Ten history to reach 4K rushing yards)

• Kaytron Allen named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for the third straight game

• Named 2025 All-Big Ten Offense 1st Team RB (Coaches & Media)—was Hon. Mention (Media) in 2024

• Named 2025 All-America RB: AFCA 2nd Team, AP 3rd team, & On3 Sports 2nd Team

• Accepted invitation to the 2026 Senior Bowl

• Effectively opted Out of the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 27—Listed as Questionable on pre-game Availability Report & did not play (although he was suited up for pre-game warmups)—decision may have been driven by 4 of 5 starting O-linemen opting out of the bowl (3 on the day before the game)

• Game 12 Receiving—2 for 12 yards, 0 TD (long-11 yds.-season high)—ties season high in receiving yards (12 vs. Oregon)

• Game 12 Kick Returns—None (none in regular season)

• 2025 Rushing stats (through 12 games)—210 for 1303 yards, 15 TDs, 6.20 yards/carry (longest run-67 yards vs. FIU—also career high rush & career long TD run/best rushing game-226 yards at Rutgers/most carries-28 at Iowa)—played most snaps among RBs in 2025

• 2025 Receiving stats (through 12 games)—18 receptions for 68 yards, 0 TD, 3.78 yards/catch (long-11 yds. at Rutgers)—Career receiving stats: 70 for 490 yds., 4 TDs, 7.0 yards/catch (long-45yds. at Indiana 2022)

• Rushing TD at Rutgers: 2nd quarter 14:55 to go, 15 yards (PS leads 21-14)

• Receiving TDs at Rutgers: None (none in regular season)

• This is his 13th career game with 100+ yards rushing tying John Cappelletti for 9th all-time at PSU/This is his 5th 100+ yard rushing game in 2025 (they are the top 5 rushing games of his career)—Five 100+ yard rushing games in ‘25 breaks former career best total of 4 in 2024 (4 of his 5 100+ yards games in 2025 came vs. Big Ten foes-first for that since Miles Sanders in 2018)—1st career game of 200+ yards (1st 200+ yard rushing game at PSU since Journey Brown’s 202 yards in the Cotton Bowl win over Memphis)

• The 55-yard & 50-yard rushes at Rutgers are his 5th & 6th career rushes of 50+ yards (4 in this season)—Only two of the six 50-yarders went for TDs (59-yard rush at Rutgers 2022 & 67-yard rush vs. FIU 2025)—Kaytron had 3 rushes of 40+ yards at Rutgers (55, 50, & 43)

• His 1303 yards rushing in the 2025 regular season is 2nd in the Big Ten and 7th in the nation

• Kaytron’s 15 rushing TDs in 2025 are a single-season best for him (previous high was 10 in 2022)—15 TDs is the most by a PSU RB in a season since Saquon Barkley rushed for 18 TDs in 2017—led Big Ten in 2025 (10th in nation)

• Kaytron has 8 career games with 2+ rushing TDs & 3 games this season with both 100+ yards rushing and 2+ rushing TDs

• Kaytron had rushed for at least one TD in all 8 games prior to Indiana game where he did not score/Kaytron has no receiving TDs in 2025

• Allen’s 39 career rushing TDs are tied for 3rd all-time on the PSU “Modified/Complete” stats list—Kaytron joins Ki-Jana Carter, Curtis Enis & Lydell Mitchell (all tied for 3rd with 39 TDs) and they trail #2 Saquon Barkley with 43 TDs and #1 Nick Singleton with 45

• Allen career all-purpose TDs: 43 total TDs (258 career points scored) on 39 rushing/4 receiving—tied with Lydell Mitchell for 3rd all-time behind Saquon Barkley (53) & Nick Singleton (55)

• Allen’s career rushing yards total is 4180 yards on 769 carries—Kaytron is 1st all-time on the PSU “Modified/Complete” rushing list—In the 2025 Nebraska game, Kaytron passed Saquon Barkley (3843 yards), Curt Warner (3872 yards) & Evan Royster (2006-2010) who held the old record with 3932 yards on 686 carries

• Allen’s career total of 769 carries (through 54 games played) is the all-time PSU record passing former recordholder Curt Warner’s 725 on the PSU “Modified/Complete” stats list

• Allen career rushing yards per carry is 5.44 (through 54 games played)

• Career All-Purpose yards from Scrimmage (rushing/receiving)-4670 yards with 43 TDs in 54 games played—Career All-Purpose yards (rushing/receiving/returns)-4711 yards with 43 TDs in 54 games played (Kaytron trails all-time leader Nick Singleton by 827 yards in this category)

  CLICK HERE FOR PSU ALL-TIME RUSHING LEADERS STATS

  CLICK HERE FOR PSU ALL-TIME RUSHING TD LEADERS

  Offensive Line

• Vega Ioane OG: Named 2025 All-Big Ten 1st Team Offense (Media) & 2nd Team Offense (Coaches)—Finalist for 2025 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award —Named All-America 1st Team Offense OG by On3 Sports & CBS Sports—Named All-America 2nd Team Offense OG by Walter Camp, AP, Sports Illustrated, & The Athletic—Named 2025 Academic All-Big Ten—Declared for NFL Draft with 1-year of eligibility remaining & opted out of Pinstripe Bowl

• Drew Shelton OT: Named 2025 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention Offense (Coaches & Media)—Named 2025 Academic All-Big Ten—Accepted invitation to the 2026 Senior Bowl/Opted out of Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 26

• Nick Dawkins C: Named 2025 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention Offense (Media)—Named 2025 Academic All-Big Ten—Opted out of Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 26

• Nolan Rucci OT: Named 2025 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention Offense (Coaches)—Named 2025 Academic All-Big Ten—Opted out of Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 26

  ALL RECEIVERS

• Trebor Pena WR: 4 receptions for 36 yards, 0 TD (long-23 yds.)—8 receptions of 20+ yards in 2025 (27 in career)—Kick Returns: 1 for 16 yards, 0 TD (long-16 yds.)—2025 regular season receiving: 44 for 452 yds. (led PSU WR/31st in Big Ten), 1 TD vs. Villanova (long-43 yds.)

• Andrew Rappleyea TE: 4 receptions for 75 yards (career high rec. & yds.), 1 TD (long-53 yds. for TD—career best)—2nd career TD reception (2nd straight game with TD catch)—2025 regular season receiving: 15 for 162 yds., 2 TDs (long-53 yds.)

• Devonte Ross WR: 2 receptions for 29 yards, 0 TD (long-19 yds.)—6 receptions of 20+ yards in 2025 (27 in career)—2025 regular season receiving: 28 for 417 yds., 5 TDs (led WR) (long-75 yds.)—2 TDs each vs. Oregon & at Michigan State—Named 2025 Academic All-Big Ten

• Kyron Hudson WR: 1 reception for 23 yards, 0 TD (long-23 yds.)—16th reception of 20+ yards in career—2025 regular season receiving: 23 for 288 yds., 2 TDs (vs. Nevada & at UCLA) (long-31 yds.)—played most snaps among WRs in 2025

• Luke Reynolds TE: 2 receptions for 11 yards, 0 TD (long-9 yds.)—2025 regular season receiving: 24 for 229 yds. (led PSU TE), 0 TD (long-22 yds.)

• Khalil Dinkins TE: no receiving stats at Rutgers—2025 regular season receiving: 14 for 167 yds., 2 TDs (long-40 yds.)—played most snaps among TEs in 2025—Named 2025 All-Big Ten Offense Honorable Mention (Coaches & Media)—Opted out of Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 26

• Liam Clifford WR: no receiving stats at Rutgers/was in role of QB2 due to injuries to backup QBs—2025 regular season receiving: 3 for 25 yds., 0 TD (long-13 yds. at Ohio State)—2025 Rushing stats: 1 for 2 yds., 0 TD—2025 Passing stats: 0 of 1 for 0 yds., 0 TD—2025 Special Teams: 1 TD on 6-yard return of blocked punt (2nd career TD with 1 receiving)—Named 2025 Academic All-Big Ten (4.0)

• Koby Howard WR: no receiving stats at Rutgers—2025 regular season receiving: 5 for 99 yds., 0 TD (long-31 yds. vs. Nebraska)—appeared in 8 games—3 receptions of 20+ yards

• OFFENSIVE PLAYERS EXPECTED IN TRANSFER PORTAL (opens Jan. 2, 2026)—Alex Birchmeier OL, Aaron Enterline WR, Anthony Ivey WR, Bekkem Kritza QB, Kaden Saunders WR, Joey Schlaffer TE (left team in early Nov.)

  SELECTED DEFENSE

• Amare Campbell LB: 14 tackles/5 solo, .5 sacks (3 yards in losses/10.5 career sacks/3 in season), .5 TFL (3 yards in losses/22 career TFLs/9.5 in season)—3rd game this season with 10+ tackles (led team with 96 total tackles/57 solo in season)—1 Fumble recovery and 61-yard TD return (1st of career)—1st PSU Fumble return for TD since 2022 vs. Rutgers (Kobe King & Ji’Ayir Brown)—PSU has 13 takeaways in 2025 (7 fumble recoveries/6 INTs)—Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week vs. Rutgers—Named 2025 3rd Team All-Big Ten Defense (Media)—played most snaps among LBs in 2025

• King Mack S: 9 tackles/1 solo—career high in tackles—Named 2025 All-Big Ten Defense Honorable Mention (Coaches & Media)

• Zakee Wheatley S: 8 tackles/5 solo—223 career tackles (74 in 2025/2nd best on team)—6 career INTs (1 in 2025 at Iowa)—played most snaps among DBs in 2025—Named 2025 All-Big Ten Defense Honorable Mention (Coaches & Media)—opted out of the Pinstripe Bowl—Accepted invitation to the 2026 Senior Bowl

• Dom DeLuca LB: 6 tackles/1 solo, 1 sack (6 yards in losses/4.5 in career), 1 TFL (6 yards in losses/16.5 in career), 1 pass breakup—Named 2025 Academic All-Big Ten (4.0)

• Zion Tracy CB: 5 tackles/4 solo, 2 TFLs (4 yards in losses/7 career TFLs)—1st career game with multiple TFLs—Delivered critical tackle for loss on 4th down stop of Rutgers QB in 4th quarter

• AJ Harris CB: 4 tackles/3 solo—Named 2025 All-Big Ten Defense Honorable Mention (Coaches & Media)—Name/Bio removed from roster Dec. 22 (reportedly planning to enter Transfer Portal)

• Dani Dennis-Sutton DE: 4 tackles/1 solo, .5 sack (2 yards in losses/21.5 career sacks), .5 TFL (2 yards in losses/32.5 career TFLs)—Named 2025 3rd Team All-Big Ten Defense (Coaches & Media)—played most snaps among DLs in 2025—Named 2025 Academic All-Big Ten—Accepted invitation to the 2026 Senior Bowl

• Zuriah Fisher DT: 2 tackles/1 solo, 1 QB hurry—21 career sacks, 32 career TFLs—Named 2025 All-Big Ten Sportsmanship Honoree for PSU—did not travel with team to NYC for Pinstripe Bowl—removed from roster ahead of bowl—reportedly entering transfer portal

• Yvan Kemajou DE: 2 tackles/0 solo, .5 sack (2 yards in losses/1.5 career sacks), .5 TFLs (2 yards in losses/5 on season)

• Chaz Coleman DE: 1 tackle/0 solo (8 tackles on season)—played 7 snaps in first action since Ohio State game due to injury issues—In 2025, he had 1 sack, 3 TFLs, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries—Dec. 18, announced on social media that he would enter Transfer Portal on Jan. 2

• Xavier Gilliam DT: 1 tackle/0 solo, .5 sacks (3 yards in losses on 1st shared sack), .5 TFL (3 yards in losses/2 career TFLs)—15 tackles on the season

• Daryus Dixson CB: 1 tackle/0 solo, 2 pass breakups (3 on season)—In 2025, he had 1 sack, 2 TFLs, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery

• Zane Durant DT: no stats at Rutgers—Named 2025 All-Big Ten Defense Honorable Mention (Coaches & Media)—1st player to opt out of Pinstripe Bowl—Accepted invitation to the 2026 Senior Bowl

• Audavion Collins CB: no stats at Rutgers—Named 2025 All-Big Ten Defense Honorable Mention (Media)

• DEFENSIVE PLAYERS EXPECTED IN TRANSFER PORTAL (opens Jan. 2, 2026)—Elliot Washington II CB, Chaz Coleman DE, AJ Harris CB, Kari Jackson LB, Daniel Jennings DE, Zuriah Fisher DE, Keon Wylie LB, Xavier Gilliam DT, Braz Thomas S, Anthony Speca LB, Jaylen Harvey DE