Penn State football sends out new transfer portal offer to Group of Five defender
Penn State is busy evaluating its needs during the 15-day spring transfer window, which started last Saturday. The Lions quickly targeted a couple of players over the weekend. Now, a new name is on that list.
Former Louisiana-Monroe defensive end Anthony Campbell reports that he has an offer from Penn State. The 6-foot-6, 277-pound Bartow, Fla., native has been a hot commodity since entering the portal on Monday. Besides the Lions, Campbell has picked up offers from Marshall, TCU, Miami, USF, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Texas Tech, Auburn, California, and West Virginia over the last 24 hours.
Campbell made 13 tackles (3.5 for loss) and netted a sack over 12 games in 2022. He also forced a fumble and had two quarterback hurries. In 2021, he played in six contests during his first season with the War Hawks. The defensive end started his college career at Independence Community College in Kansas.
What is Penn State looking for in the portal?
Defensive end was not one of the positions head coach James Franklin specified when discussing his team’s potential portal needs last weekend after the Blue-White game. That said, at 277 pounds, Campbell could likely play inside or outside in Manny Diaz’s scheme depending on the situation. First, though, the Lions would have to land him, of course. Campbell has no set decision timeline.
“I think we’re in a good place right now,” head coach Franklin said Saturday. “But, I think we need some more depth and more competition at defensive tackle. I think we need some more depth and competition at wide receiver, because I do think we could get, by West Virginia, or by game four or game five, I think we could have six guys that we feel good about.
“But, it’s not competitive. Right now, we’re trying to figure out who the third is, although a guy [Omari Evans] stepped up today. I want there to be legitimate competition at every position.”
He went on to add:
“We won’t turn down a great player at any position,” Franklin said. “The coaches were talking about [the portal]. The phones are buzzing. It’s all over the place right now. It’s crazy. I addressed it with our team in the locker room afterward.
“But, those two positions, specifically, and then a great difference maker at any position.”
Portal tracker
Here’s a full rundown of the comings and goings so far:
Penn State roster losses to the portal:
QB Christian Veilleux is at Pittsburgh for spring practice.
RB Keyvone Lee visited Mississippi State over the weekend but is not yet committed anywhere.
WR Jaden Dottin is still seeking a new home.
OL Maleek McNeil is still seeking a new home.
OL Jimmy Christ entered the transfer portal on April 16.
DE Rodney McGraw is at Louisville for spring practice.
DT Fatorma Mulbah is at West Virginia for spring practice.
LB Jamari Buddin: He left for New Mexico State.
CB Jeffrey Davis Jr. committed to Stony Brook.
CB Marquis Wilson committed to Purdue Purdue.
Penn State transfer portal roster gains
RB Trey Potts is coming from Minnesota later this year.
WR Malik McClain arrived from Florida State for spring practice.
WR Dante Cephas is coming from Kent State later this year.
CB Storm Duck arrived from North Carolina for spring practice.
K Alex Felkins arrived from Columbia for spring practice.
P Riley Thompson arrived from Florida Atlantic for spring practice.
Tracking the Lions’ spring transfer portal offers
OT Jaden Muskrat (Tulsa)
OL Emmanuel Pregnon (Wyoming)
DE Anthony Campbell (UL-Monroe)
