Penn State OT JB Nelson plans to enter NCAA transfer portal

Penn State offensive tackle JB Nelson plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. He made eight starts over the last two seasons.

Nelson played in 27 games for Penn State over the course of the last two years. Now, he could be a sought after prospect in the portal.

As a member of the Class of 2020, Nelson was a four-star recruit out of Pittsburgh (Pa.) Mt. Lebanon, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 1 overall prospect in the state, the No. 2 offensive tackle in the class and the No. 4 overall prospect in the class.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

Just a few days, Nelson was no longer listed on Penn State’s football roster. That initially indicated his future with the team and school was in doubt and that he could look elsewhere. The news reversed course on a decision Nelson made in January to return to the program for a bonus season of eligibility.

“A Pittsburgh, Pa., native, Nelson dealt with some injuries in 2024, resulting in playing just 228 snaps compared to the 417 he took a year ago,” Nelson’s return announcement read. “Teammates around him staying healthy also contributed to the drop in snaps. But, he’s a key cog in the rotational and also receives plenty of work on special teams.”

Nelson appeared in all 16 games for the Nittany Lions in 2024 while battling nagging injuries. His stretch of the least participation took place during Penn State’s postseason run, appearing for just two snaps apiece in the Big Ten Championship, Fiesta Bowl and Orange Bowl, bookending around 18 snaps against SMU in the first round of the College Football Playoff.