James Franklin preparing to pluck a transfer portal solution off Bill Belichick’s roster

Penn State is set to host North Carolina transfer linebacker Amare Campbell this weekend, with the one-year starter representing a possible replacement for Ta’Mere Robinson, who unexpectedly departed the program in the spring transfer portal window. 

College players will be desperate to learn from Bill Belichick, at least that’s the theory behind North Carolina hiring the NFL legend this offseason. However, many of the Tar Heels' 51 outgoing transfers are proving that may not be the case. 

Belichick has brought in two former Nittany Lions – Smith Vilbert and Joseph Mupoyi – as part of his rebuild in Chapel Hill, but he’s adding Penn State backups while Franklin is preparing to poach a starting linebacker off the eight-time Super Bowl champion’s roster. 

North Carolina linebacker Amare Campbell set to visit Penn State as potential Ta’Mere Robinson replacement

Robinson played just 100 snaps for Penn State last season, but the rising redshirt sophomore was slated for an increased role before he left for USC this spring. While Franklin and new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles appear to have depth with Keon Wylie and Anthony Speca behind starters Tony Rojas and Dom DeLucas, Franklin made it clear that linebacker is a pressing need for Linebacker U in his post Blue-White press conference on Saturday. 

Wylie missed all of last season with an injury, and Speca played just 60 snaps. With national championship expectations in 2025, linebacker depth is a weakness that Penn State has the resources to fill. The Nittany Lions just added Syracuse wide receiver transfer Trebor Pena after the ACC receptions leader fled the Orange amid an NIL dispute, so the money is there, and Franklin is clearly willing to spend it during this spring cycle. 

As for Campbell, he could push DeLuca, a team captain last year, for a starting role next to Rojas. The 6-foot, 230-pound rising junior played 758 defensive snaps last season and recorded 72 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks. 

Campbell flies to the ball with impressive sideline-to-sideline speed. While he’s undersized, he has utility in coverage, a knack for sniffing out screens, and is an effective quarterback spy, which Penn State lost with Abdul Carter heading to the NFL. 

Penn State isn’t the only team in the mix for Campbell, but Franklin just won a portal battle for Pena, and he looks poised to do it again on the defensive side of the ball.