How are the transfers who left Penn State performing through five weeks of college football?
Penn State is getting key contributions this fall from a few players it picked up from the NCAA transfer portal this offseason. Some are playing spots that were vacated by former Lions who left for the NFL. Others, though, have seen time in rotations that had snaps available due to transfers.
For the second time this season, we’re focusing on the latter group. How are former Penn State players who left the Lions faring across college football? It’s time to take a close look after five weeks.
How former Penn State players who left the program are performing on offense
QB Will Levis: The onetime Lions passer who is now at Kentucky continues to draw strong reviews. He is the seventh-best NFL Draft prospect by ESPN’s Todd McShay. On the field, Levis has completed 97 of 144 passes (68.8 percent) 1,405 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also has four interceptions. And, he’s ran for two scores. The Wildcats are 4-1 and No. 13 in the country.
QB Ta’Quan Roberson: Named the starter at Connecticut, Roberson is now out for the season after tearing his ACL in Week 1.
RB Noah Cain: Cain left Penn State for LSU this past offseason. He is part of a rotation with the Tigers just as he was with the Lions. Cain has 33 carries for 149 yards and four touchdowns. He is the team’s second or third back most weeks.
WR Justin Shorter: Shorter is averaging about three receptions a game at Florida. He caught his first touchdown of the season in last week’s 52-17 win over Eastern Washington. The 75-yard scoring strike was his lone reception that day. He now has 14 catches for 314 yards and a touchdown.
WR Mac Hippenhammer: Hippenhammer is the leading receiver at Miami of Ohio. And, it’s not particularly close. He has 21 catches for 309 yards and four touchdowns through a 2-3 start for the Red Hawks. No other receiver is over 100 yards for the season.
WR Daniel George: Now with former Penn State offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead at Akron, George is finding his groove. He’s second on the team in receptions (25) and yards (256) but has not yet found the end zone. The Zips have played a brutally difficult schedule so far and may find more success in conference place.
WR Cam Sullivan-Brown: UMass focuses more on rushing the ball than throwing it. But, ‘CSB’ has taken advantage of the opportunities he has received. So far, he’s caught 11 passes for 119 yards and a score. The Minutemen are 1-4.
WR TJ Jones: Jones has turned 14 catches into 104 yards for 2-2 UAB. He has the most catches on the team.
WR John Dunmore: He has one catch for 26 yards on the season at Oregon State. But, he has played in all five games.
OL Des Holmes: He’s played in four games at Arizona State this season.
TE Zack Kuntz: Now at Old Dominion, Kuntz has turned it on after a slow start. He now has 12 receptions for 144 yards and two touchdowns. The Monarchs are 2-3.
How are former Lions who left faring on defense?
DT Judge Culpepper: Culpepper is performing well for Toledo‘s top-rated MAC scoring defense. He’s fifth on the team with 19 tackles (1.5 for loss) and leads it with one sack during a 3-2 start for the Rockets.
DT Cole Brevard: After transferring to Purdue last offseason, Brevard has played in every game. However, he only has two tackles to date.
DE Damion Barber: Now at Marshall, he has nine tackles and two sacks through five games for former Lion assistant Charles Huff.
DE Joseph Darkwa: He has one tackle and has played in just one game this season at Temple.
LB Lance Dixon: Now at West Virginia, Dixon starts for the Mountaineers. He has 15 tackles, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hurry during a 2-3 start.
CB Trent Gordon: Gordon has found a special teams role at Arkansas. He’s seen time in all five games. But, he still has no counting stats.
DB Tyler Rudolph: Rudolph is now at UMass. He’s fourth on the team in tackles with 22 (one for loss) and also has an interception and two pass breakups.
