Penn State Football: Assessing Top Transfer Portal Needs

Penn State Football did a fantastic job plugging holes in the first transfer portal window, picking up wide receiver Julian Fleming, offensive tackle Nolan Rucci, and cornerbacks Jalen Kimber and AJ Harris at positions of need.

Now, in the second portal window and after a full spring of practice, Penn State’s transfer portal needs have become clearer, and much less daunting than they were in December.

Penn State Football, A.J. Harris — Penn State wide receiver Kaden Saunder pulls holds onto a catch during the Blue-White game at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, April 13, 2024, in State College. The White team defeated the Blue team, 27-0.

Three Things Penn State Football Must Do During Spring Transfer Portal Window

Find another wide receiver

Penn State Football was probably already set to look for a wide receiver in the transfer portal this spring before KeAndre Lambert-Smith entered the portal.

Now, getting a second wide receiver out of the portal is imperative to give starting quarterback Drew Allar another weapon on offense.

Outside of Ohio State transfer Julian Fleming, the Nittany Lions do not have a wide receiver on the roster who has over 600 career receiving yards.

Getting another proven veteran could help build Allar’s confidence in Andy Kotelnicki’s passing game while the younger players continue to progress in the new offense.

Kaden Saunders and Harrison Wallace III both looked impressive at the blue and white game Saturday, but neither player has over 20 receptions at the college level. If Penn State can get another veteran to supplement the Wallace, Saunders, Fleming trio, Penn State could feel more comfortable with Allar and the passing game in 2024.

Potential to add interior defensive lineman

While Penn State Football seems set on the defensive line heading into 2024, there is always room to add more size on the interior.

On3 Sports’ Steve Wilfong mentioned Penn State as a team to watch for Rutgers transfer Rene Konga, who played 10 games for the Scarlet Knights in 2023.

With Zane Durant, Hakeem Beamon, Coziah Izzard, and Dvon Ellies returning in 2024 for Penn State, a transfer pickup would likely be a depth piece to shore up the position heading into 2025, as Izzard, Ellies, and Beamon all carry senior or super senior status in 2024.

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Keep contributors on the roster

The spring transfer portal window is perhaps most important for Penn State to keep key contributors on the roster and out of the portal.

Penn State already saw starting wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith enter the transfer portal, but have yet to have anyone else enter so far.

The Nittany Lions’ roster is very solid across the board at almost every position, so it is important to keep the pieces the Penn State has happy through the end of the portal window and keep the roster intact.

After a few key additions in the first transfer portal window this offseason, Penn State filled many of the major holes on the roster. In the second window, the Nittany Lions must avoid contributors being poached by other teams, and perhaps pick up another weapon at wide receiver for Drew Allar.

At roughly a dozen players over the 85 scholarship limit for 2024, the Nittany Lions will be walking a fine line to shed enough players through the portal to get under the limit, while also trying to keep key pieces on the roster.