I don't think this proves what you're saying. It shows Campbell thinks he's worth more than PSU thinks.
'25 (in-season) - '26 CFB Portal Thread
- Thread starter Tom McAndrew
- Start date
I appreciate the job Campbell is doing to recoup a lost 2026 class and get his guys here that can help mold the culture and future of the program. I also realize that the portal just opened on Jan 2. However, has anyone heard any players from the big boys being courted by PSU? Any Ohio St guys? Bama? UGA? ND? USC? Again, there needs to be guys brought in that the coaches feel will fit the system and the culture. But looking at guys from ND St, South Dakota, SE Louisiana, Arkansas St, etc will probably only get you so far. Like Iowa/Illinois type results. Talent wins out eventually. I realize those guys may come in and be really productive and good for PSU, but we were led to believe that the sky was the limit with the portal. If you are going to let guys like Campbell, Shanahan, Coleman, Gilliam and Harvey walk, you better get equal or better talent to replace them. The natives will get really restless, really fast, if the product on the field next season looks like Minny or Illinois.
That’s BS. If you can play, you can play. Cam Brown was 6’5” and I never saw a LB more out of position in my life.
Well, right now PSU doesn’t have anyone of equal or better talent to replace him.
Nobody ever said there was unlimited NIL funding, not Pat Kraft or anyone. This is the breaks, you got $30M to splash around and 105 players....Amare might think he is worth $2M, amd our GM says he won't pay a cent over $1M, we have other positions and players we need money to attract, what can you do?
You guys are acting like Amare was some super human linebacker. He didn’t even make All Big 3rd team as a linebacker. Listen he was solid but there are better linebackers in the portal.
Where is everybody getting this $30 million NIL cap from? If I understand it correctly, the number is $20.5 million allowed to come directly from the school. This doesn’t include third party NIL funding. I am unaware of a hard $30 million cap and find it VERY hard to believe the SEC schools, O$U, Oregon, USC, TT etc will have such a cap. The mantra has been that PSU has no issue with NIL funding now. So, why let a guy like Campbell walk when he’s a proven commodity already on your roster?
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Agree, it's kinda like Moneyball.
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I thought that was something made public by Kraft, it could be 20M or 30M or 40M, the point remains, there is not UNLIMITED resources for players...anywhere. Amare is right to leave if he thinks he is undervalued and Penn State is right to give him an offer they are comfortable with. Just like the Browns with DeShaun Watson, there will be a team that overvalues Amare, a team that thinks they are just one high end linebacker away from a deep playoff run in '26 and they'll take the cheese. Rightfully so, Penn State probably has to spread the cash around as they see themselves as a few positions away from really competing at the top levels. If you found out Penn State offered an oft injured Rojas and Amare $3M each and we had the same WR play as we have had over the last 10 years, would you be happy?
Basically 1/3 of all players are in the portal. It’s going to be a while to sort out
PSU is not just a few positions away from competing at the top level as we sit here today. This is developing into a total rebuild.
He’s leaving because they told him he is not getting paid what HE thinks he’s worth.
I think (and hope) they're trying to buy proven production in college. Coming from Bama, OSU, ND doesn't equal proven production. It could be more indicative of someone overvalued in high school who isn't producing in college.
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Right LB, that's the essence of my argument. That's the answer to "why not pay Amare what he wants to stay?" We need to spread those dollars around to 2 or 3 position players and can't dedicate what Amare thinks his value is to one LB.
Penn State adds safety Marcus Neal via transfer portal
Penn State has added former Iowa State safety Marcus Neal to its 2026 roster. Nittany Lion fans, learn more on Neal right here.
Which is why it's laughable that he calls himself undervalued. But hey, he's not making the League so better get what payment he can get now.
This is a good one to get.Penn State adds safety Marcus Neal via transfer portal
Penn State has added former Iowa State safety Marcus Neal to its 2026 roster. Nittany Lion fans, learn more on Neal right here.www.on3.com
I get what you are saying, but there’s no guarantee that by letting him walk you find someone equal or better for a lesser price in the portal.
I really like him. But I agree with you. Part of what seems to be happening here- and needs to happen- is that Campbell has a vision and he is trying to get guys that fit that mold. If Amare didn’t fit his style, best to let him walk. But you have to get somebody that does fit. That’s where the problem could arise.
Fair, but just because they didn’t make the starting lineup or get all the playing time at places like UGA or O$U doesn’t mean they were overvalued. Those schools are three deep with super athletic, talented players.
It's not about PSU not having the NIL for him. It's about him not being worth the NIL he is asking for. I'd rather us use that money to go get 2 LBs that are equally as good as him.
Nope, no guarantees in any of it, but I think the GM's thinking is "I'd rather get 3 picks than pay for 1" and for a team that has to turn around a lot of the roster, it seems like a pragmatic approach. Penn State might not be in a position to pay a linebacker(3rd string all big ten) what he thinks he is owed, but you do your best to put a total roster on the field next year. This sh*t is no different than the NFL, some teams overpay for high end talent, some teams develop better, some teams draft better, some are better in free agency and so on. Just gotta do what you think is best for your organization and not overpaying for a linebacker when you have several needs seems defensible.
That's becoming less and less true which is why there's no blue bloods in the final four. The Alabama's of the world don't have anywhere near the depth they had 10 years ago because now those backups are being paid and play elsewhere. The portal and nil has spread out the talent.
Rumor has it that Amare is not his listed height of 6-0. Still, he is a very good college lb and I am disappointed he is not returning.
this is a big onePenn State adds safety Marcus Neal via transfer portal
Penn State has added former Iowa State safety Marcus Neal to its 2026 roster. Nittany Lion fans, learn more on Neal right here.
You are spot on. Too many posters getting sentimental over specific players.
There are better available LB options in the portal with more size.
It’s a good football decision by Penn State. You should never overpay for an asset.
This isn’t against you, just the height argument in general. Who cares? Production is production.
Here's the problem--you can bet almost all the transfers from big names (OSU, Bama, Georgia, etc) are going to be asking for wayyyy more than they're worth, even if they are extremely talented. I'm not worried about getting transfers from those schools in the era of moneyball unless they're truly worth what they're asking for. The teams that do the best job at building a team of player that are getting compensated closest to what they're worth will be the teams that win.
Campbell & Co think they can find guys of equal or greater production, for cheaper. This is simple GM/front office stuff. I mean, it’s simple economics. Anyone think Ole Miss’ QB cost as much as the other QBs in the portal last year? He came from D2. And look at his results.
Yes, Amare led the team in tackles, but almost by default. He was the only LB that stayed healthy and played the whole year. If the staff thinks he’s overvaluing himself, then let’s see who they bring in.
Yes, Amare led the team in tackles, but almost by default. He was the only LB that stayed healthy and played the whole year. If the staff thinks he’s overvaluing himself, then let’s see who they bring in.
Wasn’t the argument that Franklin was reluctant to spend NIL? Now, we are being thrifty even though we were led to believe NIL wasn’t an issue? Something doesn’t add up.
Wow. Can you at least wait until the portal period ends before assuming doom and gloom.
Panicking on day #3 of the portal window is absurd.
Let’s let coach Campbell get his guys to field a team and wait to see them play before passing judgement.
PSU can’t just expect to take only the ISU guys and be successful in the B1G.
And I would bet the blue bloods' initial impulse was to overpay a bunch of flashy guys, not leaving much left for depth, which is why all their backups flee and expect to be paid more. Cignetti is a great example of using NIL wisely and not overpaying. Moneyball is going to be very difficult for both players and fans to get a handle on because from the outside decisions can look illogical, while in reality it's all just a math problem. Whoever does math best, wins.
I’m not panicking. Just asking. You keep saying there are better LBs in the portal. Who are they?
Whoever coach Campbell selects will be the better LB. That’s why you should be patient and let things play out.