It might be a signal of new ventures for one Penn State offensive lineman.

As of Friday, sixth-year guard JB Nelson is no longer listed on Penn State’s spring roster. The change comes just before Monday’s transfer portal opening.

Nelson started his collegiate journey at junior college with Lackawanna Community College. After two seasons, he transferred to Happy Valley, earning a starting role in his redshirt junior season and becoming an All-Big Ten honorable mention.

In 2024, he battled injury and though he played in every game, he failed to log a start, being a reserve linemen for the season.

Nelson announced his return to the program in January, but with replacement left guard Vega Ioane locked into a starting spot and the emergence of interior lineman Cooper Cousins, Nelson may be on his way out.

The forgotten great | Evan Royster’s journey to becoming Penn State’s all-time rushing leader

The bright lights of Beaver Stadium and a sea of white faced Evan Royster as he lined up behind Matt McGloin at the 44-yard line in the early minutes against Michigan in 2010. The senior was just yards away from breaking Curt Warner’s 28-year-old Penn State career rushing yards record.

McGloin handled the snap and passed it off to Royster, who took the ball 11 yards as the stadium roared. His parents jumped for joy in the stands — their son had officially cemented himself at the top of the Nittany Lions’ history books.

“It was a very special day for me. My whole family had come up to the game and brought some of their friends and stuff with them,” Royster told The Daily Collegian in November. “So to have everybody there on that day was pretty special, and we got to celebrate a little bit all together afterward, so it was pretty cool.”

Royster finished that contest with 150 yards and two touchdowns, and ended his career with 3,932 rushing yards, 534 more than Warner. In Penn State’s bookstore downtown, Royster’s name sits atop the short flight of stairs to the second floor, which commemorates the Nittany Lions’ best rushers.

But it wasn’t a given that Royster would end up at the top, or even in Happy Valley. Royster said Penn State made a push into his recruiting process “pretty late.” However, when the Nittany Lions started their pursuit, they stood out among the pack.

Regardless, Royster planned to wait until National Signing Day to make a decision on his future, wanting to have what he envisioned as a “cool spectacle” for his commitment. That changed when Joe Paterno took a trip to Westfield High School in Chantilly, Virginia, to visit Royster.