Silly season is upon us, and Penn State is already involved.

The transfer portal will open Monday, allowing thousands of FBS players to enter their names in search of greener pastures. Players can declare their intentions before that, and many have already done so on social media. But on Dec. 5 and in the days following, you’re going to see a lot of players announcing their next stops.

Previously, there were no restrictions on the transfer portal, which debuted in 2018. But before the 2022 season, the NCAA instituted specified portal periods for each sport. FBS football’s portal period is open from Dec. 5 into January, then again in May.

The portal opening Monday starts a 45-day period in which all FBS players can enter their name in the portal. Once there, they can take their time making their decisions. Graduate transfers can still enter at any time, and players whose head coaches leave or get fired have an immediate 30-day portal period free of any restrictions.

Penn State has already been affected by the portal’s impending opening. Christian Veilleux announced his intentions to enter the portal, an expected move for the reserve quarterback stuck behind Drew Allar.

Realistically, Veilleux won’t be the only player who leaves the Nittany Lions. But Penn State will also look to add a piece or two from the portal this offseason. It’s still early, and more options will emerge over the coming days and weeks. But here are a few names to keep an eye on from a Penn State perspective ahead of Monday.

Dont’e Thornton, WR, Oregon

This is a possibility that has a lot of people talking, and understandably so.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, Dont’e Thornton was committed to Penn State. Back in Feb. 2019, when he was a sophomore in high school, Thornton became the first member of Penn State’s 2021 recruiting class. It was so early in the process that the receiver didn’t even have a star rating from 247 Sports.

Thornton decommitted seven months later. When the Maryland native signed with Oregon, he was a four-star recruit and the No. 75 prospect in the cycle, per 247 Sports.

Thornton didn’t necessarily light it up with the Ducks, totaling 541 yards, 26 receptions and three touchdowns in 15 games. He played sparingly last year as a freshman but emerged down the stretch this fall as a deep-ball threat. In Oregon’s win over Utah, the 6-foot-5 target secured four catches for 151 yards.

As an undergraduate athlete, the Nittany Lions would have to wait to contact him until Monday. But hey, better late than never for the former Penn State commit.

Jimmy Horn Jr., WR, South Florida

Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions have already reached out to Jimmy Horn Jr.

Horn entered the portal on Tuesday; South Florida head coach Jeff Scott getting fired on Nov. 3 allowed him early access. The 5-foot-10 receiver announced on Wednesday that he was offered by Penn State. He has also received interest from Virginia Tech, Missouri and West Virginia since putting his name out there.

Horn was overlooked in the high school recruiting process. The Florida native and consensus three-star 2021 prospect didn’t have any FBS offers three weeks before signing day and was set to sign with HBCU Jackson State. Ultimately, he chose South Florida.

Horn developed into a dynamic playmaker for the Bulls. He was South Florida’s second-leading receiver this year with 551 yards and three touchdowns on 37 catches. Horn also added an 89-yard kickoff return touchdown and 55-yard rushing score.

Dominic Lovett, WR, Missouri

You can sense a theme here. Penn State is in need of an experienced receiver.

Western Kentucky transfer Mitchell Tinsley (45 catches, 528 yards) is out of eligibility. And Parker Washington (46 catches, 611 yards) might declare for the draft despite suffering a season-ending injury a few weeks back. If Washington goes, the Nittany Lions will be without their top two receivers in 2023. Even if Washington comes back, receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield would like another proven product to go along with KeAndre Lambert-Smith and a deep crop of young options.

Dominic Lovett would provide that. Lovett is expected to enter the portal, according to multiple reports, after a breakout sophomore season with Missouri. The 5-foot-10 receiver tallied 846 yards on 56 receptions, ranking third and sixth in the SEC.

Lovett’s connection to Penn State isn’t as obvious as Thornton’s. But Penn State was one of many schools to offer when Lovett was a four-star prospect in the 2021 class. When assessing his options, Lovett — like any possible transfer — will see the potential Penn State has offensively in 2023 with Allar, Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen and Olu Fashanu leading the unit. That core will be a big sell for James Franklin.

Ajani Cornelius, OL, Rhode Island

Speaking of Fashanu, the Nittany Lions will be in the hunt for someone to compete and potentially start opposite him at right tackle. Ajani Cornelius fits the bill.

Cornelius is already in the portal, which opened for FCS players last week. Missouri, Virginia, Washington State, Kansas, West Virginia and Nebraska offered the All-CAA honoree on Tuesday, the day he entered the portal. Penn State, Oregon, Louisville, Syracuse, Minnesota and Indiana followed up on Wednesday. Auburn and South Carolina also threw their hats in the ring on Thursday.

Cornelius, a 6-foot-5, 310-pounder, was a presence for Rhode Island, starting 22 games the last two years. He has two years of eligibility remaining, which makes the New York native even more of an attractive option.

One thing Penn State has going for it is its recent history with FCS linemen under Phil Trautwein. Harvard transfer Eric Wilson started 12 games at guard in 2021, and Cornell transfer Hunter Nourzad has made six starts this fall. We’ll see if that — and the prospect of playing opposite Fashanu — intrigues Cornelius. If it doesn’t, expect Trautwein to continue searching the portal for depth and difference makers.

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