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Penn State hosting Transfer Portal linebacker on Tuesday

Fitz headshot croppedby: Sean Fitz04/29/25SeanFitzOn3
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Nittany Lions linebackers coach Dan Connor. (Pickel/BWI)

Penn State head coach James Franklin left little to the imagination on Saturday following the Blue-White Game when he talked about adding another piece at linebacker this offseason. The Nittany Lions were thin throughout the spring with Tony Rojas and Dakaari Nelson sidelined, and Ta’Mere Robinson’s decision to hit the portal earlier this month turned a want into a need.  

“We’re not a big portal team, but we’re going to have to address some issues,” Franklin said. “So if there is a linebacker out there that wants to come and be a part of our program and play for LBU, the most historic linebacker program in the history of college football, there’s an opportunity here to join the room and compete. So we will look at that.

“I think we’ve got enough in the room, but to get through an entire season if we get some injuries, it could get challenging. So we’re going to look at the portal and see if we could find a solution. As you guys know, more times than not, we’d like it to be somebody that is connected to us and that we know. Because, we got a really good locker room, and I’ll make sure that we’re bringing the right people in our locker room. We’re very protective of that.”

Penn State hosting a potential transfer

Penn State has focused its search on a few familiar names. One of those players is on campus on Tuesday, BWI has confirmed. Former Rutgers linebacker Mohamed Toure is in Happy Valley for a visit. He is the older brother of Nittany Lions redshirt freshman safety Vaboue Toure. 

A two-time team captain at Rutgers and a preseason Butkus Award Watch List member, Toure missed the entire season last fall with his second ACL tear. Penn State will want to get a closer look at the knee, which he re-injured back in preseason camp last August. 

Toure was an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection in 2023 after totaling 93 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He did that after missing the the 2022 season with his first knee injury. As it stands right now, Toure has one year left to play as it stands. He redshirted in 2019, played nine games in the 2020 Covid season, played in 13 in 2021 and again in 2023. In missing two full seasons with injury, he would have a shot at another year pending an appeal. 

Nittany Lions looking at options

Penn State is also set to host North Carolina linebacker Amare Campbell this weekend, On3 has previously reported. Campbell tallied 76 tackles last season, including 6.5 sacks, for the Tar Heels. He also forced a fumble and defended two passes. Ohio linebacker Shay Taylor, who reported a Penn State offer last week, committed to Charlotte.

The Nittany Lions currently have eight scholarship linebackers on the roster, a number that includes a pair of freshmen in Alex Tatsch and LaVar Arrington II. Rojas and Dom Deluca currently profile as the projected starters in Jim Knowles’ defense. 

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