Penn State football is reportedly eyeing another transfer portal target to bolster the 2021 roster, this time a player from the Ivy League.
Penn State football is targeting former Harvard offensive linemen Eric Wilson in the transfer portal, according to a Lions247 report.
Wilson will be a grad transfer, and reportedly already has a job in pharmaceuticals lined up for him after football. But, Wilson is eyeing a shot to play Power 5 football before he trades his cleats in for a lab-coat.
Wilson originally committed to play at Auburn, but after the firing of head coach Gus Malzahn, he is open to other suitors. The Minneapolis, Minnesota native tells 247 he has been in contact with Auburn, LSU and Penn State football.
"“It seems like those three are the main options. I am open to everyone right now. I am actually talking to SMU a lot, too” Wilson said."
The former Ivy Leaguer is listed at six-foot-four and 280 pounds, and was a second team All-Ivy selection at left guard in 2019. But, the Ivy League cancelled fall sports and did not play football in 2020 due to Covid-19 concerns.
Penn State Football has been as aggressive as any school in the transfer portal so far this offseason, already adding four players, all of them former starters at previous school. However, it seems coach James Franklin is staying aggressive in plugging any holes in his roster.
"I’ve been on the phone with coach Franklin and coach Trautwein,” Wilson said. “They are going to talk to my family on the phone soon, and we’re going to try to build that relationship a little bit more.”"
The Nittany Lions will be replacing starting center Michael Menet and starting right guard Will Fries from this season, and likely moving left guard Mike Miranda to center, leaving holes at both guard positions for 2021. Wilson would be a candidate to come in and contribute right away, or at least provide depth and competition to redshirt sophomore Juice Scruggs who really impressed in the second half of the season, and redshirt junior Des Holmes who saw a lot of time in 2020.
Wilson was a three star recruit coming out of high school and only had one power five offer, from Iowa State.
Penn State Football did not offer Wilson out of high school, but seems to be very interested in his services now. Time will tell if Wilson is the fifth commit via the transfer portal this offseason for the Nittany Lions.