Skip to main content

How is each Penn State football transfer performing so far?

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel09/12/24

GregPickel

penn-state-transfer-cristian-driver-minnesota-football.
Minnesota Golden Gophers wide receiver Cristian Driver (4) runs after catching a pass as Rhode Island Rams defensive back Andre DePina-Gray (30) defends during the first half at Huntington Bank Stadium. (Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images)

Numerous former Penn State football players who left the program via the transfer portal are now making an impact at their new schools. Some are starting, others have rotational roles, and another group is finding it as hard to get on the field elsewhere as they did in State College. With two weeks now in the books across college football, it’s time to update how the ex-Lions are performing.

Former Penn State players suiting up elsewhere on offense

WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Auburn: Through two weeks, ‘KLS’ has established himself as one of the Tigers’ most-used wide receivers. After dealing with bumps and bruises during preseason camp, he caught three passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns in the Tigers’ season-opening win over Alabama A&M. Then, a week ago, he netted two receptions for 30 yards and a score. The SEC school faces New Mexico this week.

WR Cristian Driver, Minnesota: Driver was on the field for 15 snaps in Minnesota’s Week 1 contest with North Carolina and 17 for a Week 2 title opposite Rhode Island. He caught one pass for one yard against the Tar Heels and put up two receptions for 26 yards against Rhode Island, including a six-yard touchdown reception.

RB London Montgomery, East Carolina: Montgomery has totaled 23 snaps on offense over ECU’s first two games. All of his stats came in the team’s Week 1 win over Norfolk State. Montgomery rushed 14 times for 67 yards in the victory.

WR Malik McClain, Arizona State: McClain projected as a starter coming out of preseason camp. But, he appears to have lost that role already. After earning 22 snaps in Week 1 against Wyoming, he played just nine in Week 2 against Mississippi State. So far, he has no counting stats. The Sun Devils play Texas State tonight.

WR Malick Meiga, Coastal Carolina: Meiga has been on the field for 51 snaps on offense over the first two weeks. That is fourth most among receivers and he is in a backup role. So far, he has three receptions for 79 yards.

More: What did Penn State coach James Franklin say during the Lions’ bye week



RB Devyn Ford, Notre Dame: Ford is down the depth chart in the Fighting Irish’s running backs room but has a big special teams role. So far, he has one carry for zero yards and one kick return for nine yards.



OL Jimmy Christ, Virginia: Christ has 25 snaps through two weeks. They all came against FCS foe Richmond in Week 1.

QB Michael Johnson Jr., Syracuse: Johnson Jr., is listed as the Orange’s co-backup with Carlos Del Rio-Wilson behind starter Kyle McCord. He has no snaps yet this season.

RB Keyvone Lee, Mississippi State: Lee leads the Bulldogs’ back field with 57 snaps so far. With them, he has 18 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown. He also has three catches for 13 yards.

QB Christian Veilleux, Georgia State: Veilleux is the starter in 2024. Throughout a 1-1 start, he has completed 45 of 72 passes (62.5 percent) for 448 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. Notably, he has only five rushes for 10 yards so far.

RB Caziah Holmes, Florida State: Holmes is a backup in the Seminoles backfield. He has taken 10 saps so far and turned them into three carries for eight yards.

Top 10

  1. 1

    Kirby shoves MSU QB

    The UGA coach is going to regret this

    Trending
  2. 2

    Herbie backs Ducks

    Kirk Herbstreit message to Oregon, Ohio State

  3. 3

    Referee hospitalized

    Boise State-Hawaii ref taken off field by ambulance

  4. 4

    Spitting ejection

    Traeshon Holden spits on Ohio State DB, gets ejected

  5. 5

    Lincoln Riley snaps back

    USC head coach takes exception to question

View All



QB Ta’quan Roberson, Kansas State: Roberson is the backup to starter Avery Johnson. He is 1 for 3 for 4 yards so far in 2024.

QB Micah Bowens, Bethune-Cookman: Bowens was in for 23 snaps during a 48-3 loss to USF. He rushed five times for one yard and was 0 for 6 on pass attempts with an interception.

OL Ibrahim Traore, Toledo: Traore is a backup left guard who has nine snaps so far on offense and 15 on special teams.

WR Carmelo Taylor, Lackawanna College: While technically not a transfer, Taylor is suiting up for the Falcons at the junior college level. So far, he has one catch for 37 yards.

WR Dante Cephas, Kansas State: Cephas has taken 53 snaps so far, which is second among Wildcats receivers. He has not recorded a reception yet.

Former Nittany Lions lining up elsewhere on defense

S King Mack, Alabama: Mack is used primarily on the Crimson Tide’s kickoff coverage and punt return teams. He has 31 special teams snaps to date, which is third most on the team. However, he has just 22 snaps on defense, which ranks 10th among the SEC team’s defensive backs. He has no counting stats to date.

DL Davon Townley, Missouri State: Townley has 27 defensive snaps to date and five on special teams. Those have resulted in three tackles.

DL Jordan van den Berg, Georgia Tech: van den Berg is the Yellow Jacket’s backup nose tackle. He also has a role on the field goal block unit. So far, he has 82 defensive snaps and three tackles.

P Alex Bacchetta, Rice: Bacchetta won the team’s starting job out of preseason camp. Eight punts have gone for an average of 43.25 yards. He has two 50–plus yard boots and one punt inside of the opponent’s 20-yard-line.



DT Fatorma Mulbah, West Virginia: Mulbah played against Penn State and has a role for the Mountaineers. The top four defensive tackle has 54 defensive snaps to date. Those have led to four tackles.

DL Rodney McGraw, Western Michigan: McGraw is down the Broncos’ depth chart at defensive end. He has 44 defensive snaps to date and three on special teams. Those have led to two tackles.

DL Ken Talley, Michigan State: Talley has 47 snaps, which is fourth most among Spartans’ defensive ends. Those have led to four tackles and half of a sack.

DT Cole Brevard, Purdue: Brevard has 28 defensive snaps, the second most among Purdue interior defensive lineman. He has two tackles on the season.

DL Jamari Buddin, Grand Valley State: Buddin did not record any snaps in GVSU’s season-opening win.

S Tyler Rudolph, UMASS: Rudolph starts at safety for the Minutemen and also is on their field goal block team. So far, he has eight tackles and two pass breakups throughout an 0-2 start.

LB Lance Dixon, Toledo: Dixon has 64 defensive snaps, third most among the MAC team’s linebackers. He is also part of the kick coverage and punt return teams. To date, he has nine tackles and two pass breakups.

You may also like