Michigan State wide receiver Nick Marsh declared his intent on entering the Transfer Portal on Dec. 1. It was a tough blow for the Spartans, but great news for the rest of the country, especially Penn State.
The Nittany Lions have a real shot at landing who's considered as one of the top wideouts prepared to enter the portal when it opens on Jan. 2.
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Penn State football can pick up the top wide receiver, Nick Marsh, in the Transfer Portal
The sophomore wide receiver was a four-star recruit from the Class of 2024 and No. 30 out of his position group across the country. Marsh was also the 176th-ranked recruit overall and No. 3 student-athlete out of Michigan. He received offers from Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Oregon, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Michigan, Georgia Tech, Miami, and Pittsburgh — and that's just naming a few.
While he opted to stay in-state, sticking by former Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith, Penn State almost earned Marsh's commitment out of high school.
Throughout his two seasons as a Spartan, Marsh accumulated 1,311 receiving yards on 100 catches. He also had nine touchdowns. His production remained consistent over the two years, but Marsh doubled his touchdown-count from three to six freshman to sophomore year.
Now with Smith out, Marsh also decided to leave East Lansing and find a new home. Without now-Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin in Happy Valley, it's not a guarantee that Penn State is at the front of his mind. However, that doesn't mean head coach Matt Campbell can't throw some bait out there with the $30 million in NIL he has to spend on the Nittany Lions' program.
Penn State's pass game isn't the highlight of its offense, but without running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton returning in 2026 and a a new staff building in Happy Valley, everything on and off the field is subject to shift. The identity of the Nittany Lions will be completely different, and hopefully for the better. Campbell can ignite a two-dimensional offense with Marsh on the field, especially going deep.
The pieces on the offense, especially, are tougher to gauge without a starting quarterback identified. Campbell might stick it out with Ethan Grunkemeyer for stability, consistency, and familiarity with the program, or he might pick out a proven, known veteran in Rocco Becht. In either scenario, Marsh is a great addition and asset to both quarterbacks in the pass game. He's a wide receiver Campbell can't ignore when the Transfer Portal opens in the new year.