Penn State Football extends offers to notable transfer portal targets
Penn State Football is zeroing in on its top targets in the transfer portal after the portal opened on Monday
Penn State Football wasted no time identifying transfer portal options that the Nittany lions would like to add to their 2023 roster.
Penn State has been aggressive in the transfer portal the last two offseasons, adding multiple impact players to the team. This may be the most important offseason of James Franklin’s tenure though, as the 2023 team looks like his best chance since 2017 to reach the College Football Playoff.
With that said, Franklin knows he needs to continue to hit home runs with his transfer portal additions. The Nittany Lions could use help at wide receiver, defensive tackle and cornerback, and it looks like they know it.
The portal officially opened on Monday and Penn State Football was quick to extend offers to players in the portal.
WR Dante Cephas
Arguably Penn State’s top target in the portal, the Nittany Lions formally extended an offer to the Kent State wide receiver on Monday. The Pittsburgh native caught 48 passes for 744 yards and three touchdowns in nine games this season. The fact that he is from Pennsylvania gives Penn State a massive leg up in this recruitment if Cephas intends to stay close to home. With Mitchell Tinsley moving on, and the possibility that Parker Washington does the same, the Nittany Lions need to add more offensive options for projected 2023 starting quarterback Drew Aller. Cephas would be a massive step in the right direction of doing just that.
DL Elijah Jeudy
Once a top target for Penn State football back in the class of 2021, defensive lineman Elijah Jeudy is leaving Texas A&M. The Philadelphia product decided to go down South and picked the Aggies over Penn State and others. Originally recruited as a defensive end, Jeudy is now listed at 6-foot-3 and 295 pounds, meaning he’s best suited for the interior of the defensive line. The Nittany Lions certainly have a need at defensive tackle with P.J. Mustipher moving on. Jeudy has just one tackle in three games over two seasons. Despite this, Penn State still extended an offer to him on Monday, so the staff liked what it saw.
CB Khyree Jackson
With Joey Porter Jr. officially head to the draft, it wouldn’t hurt for Penn State Football to add some more depth at cornerback. One player the Nittany Lions are interested in is Alabama transfer Khyree Jackson. According to Tyler Calvaruso of 247 Sports, Penn State offered Jackson on Monday. Jackson has played in 13 games over two seasons with the Crimson Tide, recording 14 tackles and two pass breakups. The former JUCO recruit has one year of eligibility remaining. Listed at 6-foot-3, Jackson has similar size to Porter, making him a nice replacement, even if he’s not a first-round caliber player like Porter.
OT Ajani Cornelius
With Olu Fashanu announcing his intentions to return next season, it looked like offensive line would not be a target for Penn State Football in the portal, that is not the case. The Nittany lions have extended an offer to Rhode Island transfer offensive tackle Ajani Cornelius. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds, Cornelius started at right tackle for Rhode Island and was a First Team All-CAA selection this year. Penn State could put Cornelius at right tackle, upgrading the position and moving Caedan Wallace to guard. This would give the Nittany Lions an impressive tackle duo and ton of depth on the interior of the line.