Following Penn State in the transfer portal
Last season, James Franklin added six players through the transfer portal, and his program’s offseason philosophy typically centers more around talent retention than acquisition. However, after Penn State was awarded the No. 6 seed in the 12-team College Football Playoff after an 11-2 season, Franklin told reporters that Penn State would have an aggressive approach to the portal.
With the season (hopefully) far from over, the Nittany Lions are unlikely to see many portal departures until the portal window reopens to the team after it's eliminated (or finishes the year in the national title game). However, a few players have jumped in early and Franklin and his staff are already targeting potential upgrades to their 2025 roster.
Here’s a look at Penn State’s 2025 transfer portal activity.
Recent transfer portal activity:
- Sunday, January 12: Former Michigan defensive lineman Owen Wafle commits to Penn State
- Sunday, January 12: Former Penn State safety King Mack returns to Happy Valley after one year at Alabama
- Sunday, January 12: Penn State cornerback Cam Miller enters the transfer portal
- Friday, January 10: Former Texas A&M offensive guard TJ Shanahan commits to Penn State
Full list of incoming transfers:
- Kyron Hudson, WR, USC, 6’1 205 lbs Eligibility: 1 yl
- Devonte Ross, WR, Troy, 5’11” 161 lbs Eligibility: 1 yl
- Enai White, DE, Texas A&M, 6’5” 245 lbs Eligibility: 2 yl
- TJ Shanahn, OG, Texas A&M, 6’4” 330 lbs Eligibility: 3 yl
- Owen Wafle, DL, Michigan, 6’2” 298 lbs Eligibility: 4 yl
- King Mack, S, Alabama, 5’10” 206 lbs Eligibility: 2 yl
Full list of outgoing transfers:
- Jerry Cross, TE, redshirt sophomore, 6’5” 254 lbs
- T.A. Cunningham, DL, freshman, 6’5” 285 lbs
- Beau Pribula, QB, redshirt sophomore 6’2” 207lbs
- Cam Miller, CB, junior, 6’0” 183 lbs
Key transfer portal targets:
Penn State’s most important positions of need in the transfer portal this offseason are wide receiver, defensive line, and cornerback. The pressure is on Franklin to provide his offense with more playmaking talent after last season’s portal addition, Julian Fleming, didn’t provide much impact.
Kyron Hudson and Devonte Ross should help to provide Drew Allar with more weapons for his senior season, while Enai White and Owen Wafle help to address the sudden lack of depth along the defensive line with Abdul Carter, Amin Vanover, Dvon J-Thomas, Alonzo Ford Jr. and Coziah Izzard all departing the program either for graduation or the NFL.
The King Mack reunion is an interesting move to help fill a need at safety with both Kevin Winston Jr. and Jaylen Reed heading for the league as well, but the Nittany Lions could still use help at cornerback.