Penn State’s roster for the Pinstripe Bowl continues to thin.
Starting cornerback A.J. Harris is no longer listed on the Nittany Lions’ roster and plans to enter the transfer portal when it opens Jan. 2, leaving Penn State without another key contributor in the secondary for its matchup against Clemson.
Harris logged the second-most snaps at cornerback (493) for Penn State this season and was a consistent presence on the back end. The junior finished the year with 33 tackles, including one tackle for loss, one pass breakup, and a fumble recovery.
A multi-year starter, Harris appeared in 27 games over the past two seasons and earned All-Big Ten honorable mention recognition in 2025 after being named third-team all-conference in 2024.
His departure adds to a growing list of Penn State absences ahead of the bowl game, particularly in the secondary, where depth is becoming an increasing concern.
A Familiar Name to Clemson
Harris’ name will ring familiar for Clemson fans.
The former five-star recruit was part of the 2023 recruiting class, a cycle in which Clemson Tigers was among his finalists. Harris originally began his college career at Georgia Bulldogs before transferring to Penn State Nittany Lions, where he quickly carved out a starting role.
With Harris now out of the picture, Penn State will be forced to rely more heavily on younger defensive backs when it faces Clemson at Yankee Stadium.
As bowl week approaches, roster availability continues to shape the complexion of the Pinstripe Bowl on both sidelines.