Penn State football transfer portal primer: rules, dates, targets & more
By Josh Yourish
A complete guide to the transfer portal for Penn State
James Franklin has a retention-based philosophy when it comes to the transfer portal. What NIL resources Franklin and Penn State have at their disposal, are typically used to keep talent in Happy Valley and out of the portal. However, last offseason, Franklin addressed positions of need with six portal additions.
The Nittany Lions added Jalen Kimber and AJ Harris at cornerback, both starters in 2024, Nolan Rucci at right tackle, a primary backup and postseason starter at right tackle following Anthony Donkoh’s long-term injury, Julian Fleming at wide receiver, Jordan Mayer at edge rusher, and kicker Chase Meyer.
Now, in 2024, Penn State is heading to the Big Ten Championship game and is a near-lock to make the 12-team College Football Playoff, but while the postseason push is underway, so is the portal frenzy, so we’re here to get you ready for everything transfer portal when it comes to the Nittany Lions.
Transfer portal rules: What Penn State fans need to know
There have been two big rule changes in recent years that largely affect roster building through the portal.
1. All undergraduate athletes are allowed to transfer and play immediately as long as they meet academic requirements for eligibility. There are no longer limits on how many times players can transfer, and players are not forced to sit out a year.
2. The NCAA removed sport specific scholarship limits and replaced them with roster limits as part of the impending House settlement. The football roster limit is set at 105, which is an increase of 20 scholarship spots for the 2025-26 academic year, assuming the settlement passes and revenue-sharing is approved.
Key transfer portal dates
Back in October, the NCAA voted to shorten the college football transfer portal window from 45 to 30 days, and the 30-day window will begin on Monday, December 9, one day after the College Football Playoff field and bowl game assignments will be set.
The college football transfer portal will be open from Monday December 9, until Saturday December 28, 2024.
The Spring transfer portal window is a 10-day window from April 16-25, 2025. Prior to the Spring window, there will be an additional five-day window in January for athletes on teams in the College Football Playoff and later bowl games.
Penn State’s roster needs and portal priorities
It’s impossible to perfectly project the positions of need because it can change with one player decided to leave through the transfer portal or head for the NFL draft. However, there are two positions that Penn State will almost certainly need to beef up with veterans this offseason.
Wide receiver:
Penn State needed wide receiver help last offseason after KeAndre Lambert-Smith left for Auburn, but Franklin largely struck out. The only addition was Julian Fleming, and he finished the regular season with 14 catches for 176 yards and one touchdown.
Harrison Wallace III is clearly the team’s best weapon on the outside and Omari Evans has flashed as a field stretcher, however, with tight end Tyler Warren heading to the NFL, the Nittany Lions will need a reliable playmaker in the passing game, and there aren’t many on the roster. Luckily, wide receiver is one of the most plentiful positions in the portal every offseason.
Interior defensive line:
Penn State has been strong on the defensive line throughout the James Franklin era, but the Nittany Lions have boasted more impactful edge rushers than interior players. At times this season, junior Zane Durant has been borderline dominant on the inside, but most of Penn State’s reliable defensive tackles will be moving on this offseason.
Coziah Izzard, Dvon J-Thomas, and Alonzo Ford Jr. are all seniors in their final year of eligibility, and Hakeem Beamon already stepped away from the team. Redshirt freshman Ty Blanding and true freshman Xaiver Gilliam will be in line for significant snaps as sophomores, but a veteran running-mate for Durant will be crucial for Tom Allen’s unit.
Potential transfer portal targets for Penn State
WR:
- KC Concepcion, NC State, 5'11" 189 lbs Eligibility: 2 yl
- Micah Hudson, Texas Tech, 6'0" 190 lbs Eligibility: 3 yl
- Omari Kelly, Middle Tennessee, 6’0” 190 lbs Eligibility: 1 yl
- Donaven McCulley, Indiana, 6’5” 203 lbs Eligibility: 1 yl
DT:
- Jehiem Oatis: DT, Alabama 6’5” 325 lbs Eligibility: 2 yl
feed