Evaluating Penn State football 2023 transfer portal haul
Barring unforeseen changes leading into the 2023 season, the Penn State football transfer portal movement appears to be settled. Since last December, that has taken shape as eight additions to the roster, with one unusual addition and subtraction in the form of Storm Duck.
As a result, the Nittany Lions have seven additions to the roster through the transfer portal for the 2023 season. Meeting with reporters late last week, Penn State head coach James Franklin reiterated the program’s approach to the portal. Working to create a system that overwhelmingly relies on traditional high school recruiting, opportunities to selectively fill holes in the roster can and should be pursued, but with diligence.
“I think for us, we’d like to build it with high school players, but when you can go out and solve some problems, whether it’s starters or depth with proven commodities from other colleges, that helps,” Franklin said. “We also like the guys that that have multiple years, because it gives them time to adjust, too.”
Here, we’re taking a comprehensive look at the transfer class and where it falls in the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings as the 2023 season approaches.
Penn State team transfer portal ranking: No. 47
Dante Cephas
No. 3 – 6-foot, 180 pounds – RS Sr.
No. 15 overall – No. 8 receiver
93.00 – four-star
So far, so good for Cephas in his first month at Penn State, according to Franklin. And, from the sounds of the feedback coming from teammates and the Nittany Lions’ other assistants, the fifth-year senior has meshed well.
The question is what role he’ll take in Penn State’s offense, and from Franklin to assistant coach Marques Hagans, the message is consistent. Cephas might be the No. 15-ranked player in the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings this cycle, but he’ll need to work and perform to make his mark on the field this season.
“At the end of the day, he’s a good football player. I think the biggest challenge for him is just getting acclimated to everything that we do around here and making sure that he’s on top of those things. But as far as the football aspect, he’s come right in and embraced the culture of the room,” Hagans said. “I think he’s gonna do really well. What that role is, I don’t know. That’ll be left to be determined by him. But I’m really glad we have him in the room.”
Malik McClain
No. 11 – 6-foot-4, 202 pounds – Junior
No. 60 receiver
87.00 – three-star
Penn State came out of the spring signaling that McClain, the offseason addition from Florida State, would be something of a developmental project. In some ways duplicating what Malick Meiga brings to the table, McClain was among the many receivers below the tier of KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Tre Wallace, and Omari Evans heading into the summer.
Franklin offered some level of optimism for McClain’s strides this offseason though on Thursday last week.
“Malik McClain is a guy that has a lot of buzz, especially from you guys about him coming in. It’s going to be interesting,” Franklin said. “He looked great this morning running and moving around. I’ve heard great things about him.”
Alonzo Ford
No. 50 – 6-foot-2, 280 pounds – Junior
No. 21 defensive line
87.00 – three-star
Penn State wanted to help solidify a defensive tackle position facing rightful questions heading into the offseason. With the addition of Ford, arriving from Old Dominion this summer, the Nittany Lions are hoping to have helped answer those questions.
Like his fellow transfers, the extent of Ford’s impact this season will be dictated by the impression he makes through the summer. But, at minimum, the Nittany Lions helped boost the room.
“I just felt like we needed a little bit more depth at the tackle. In those positions, there’s a lot of physicality and contact. So having some guys with experience at those positions, and depth,” Franklin said. “Being able to watch him on tape against Virginia and against Virginia Tech and how he played against those opponents was helpful for us because we feel like that’s got the best ability for us to kind of determine how his skills will transfer at this level.
“Having Ricky Rahne, one of my former staff members as the head coach there, being able to call him and get feedback there as well. And another guy that has multiple years of eligibility, is a three-for-two guy. So that helps, too.”
Trey Potts
No. 23 – 5-foot-9, 215 pounds – RS Senior
No. 75 running back
85.00 – three-star
Penn State strength coach Chuck Losey made clear that Potts has an opportunity to transform his numbers this offseason. And, with another six weeks separating the Nittany Lions from the start of preseason camp, that time could change the extent to which Potts is likely to be utilized this season.
Ranked in the On3 Transfer Portal as the No. 75 running back this cycle, Andy Frank, general manager of personnel and recruitment, provided early feedback on the former Minnesota product’s integration into the program.
“Potts has been good so far, I think he’s going to add a ton of depth to that room. A lot of experience at a little bit higher level than Cephas has,” Frank said. “We get two really good ones that are here. So at least right now it’s where it’s probably at for him. But he’ll have a chance to compete for a lot of playing time.
“And I think, for us, having a guy like that, I think grew up a Penn State fan, that out of high school, we weren’t really in a position we could take him out of high school. But to go off somewhere else have success, be successful, and then want to come back after that, I think it’s exciting.”
Audavion Collins
No. 29 – 5-foot-11, 175 pounds
No. 141 corner
85.00 – three-star
Like many of his transfer portal peers this offseason, Collins’ biggest opportunity is likely to come in the weight room. Though Penn State was looking to replace the presence of Storm Duck, who abruptly left after just a few months in the program this spring, Franklin laid out the path likely for Collins.
“We had gone to the transfer portal and got a young man and then that young man ended up leaving. So finding another guy like that was important,” Franklin said. “We went back and watched his high school tape. He’s a little bit different situation because he’s got four years of eligibility, which is unusual. So we had to go back and watch his high school tape. We liked his high school tape. I called Mississippi State and had a good conversation with their head coach there.
“He’s come here and done well. And he’s tested well, he’s quick, and he’s fast, and he’s explosive. He needs to eat a few sandwiches. But besides that, we’ve been impressed so far. And he’s an awesome kid. So that’s been a good fit for us.”
The fit in the program and the fit in Manny Diaz’s defense is still to be determined, though.
“We’ll see how that plays out, whether it’s depth, or whether it’s starter, or whether it’s special teams. That’s to be determined,” Franklin said. “That’s up to him and what he does with the opportunity.”
Alex Felkins
No. 91 – 6-foot-3, 198 pounds
No. 13 kicker
80.00 – three-star
Penn State wanted competition for its young, talented specialists. The program brought in Felkins from Columbia and Riley Thompson from Florida Atlantic to help address those questions.
“We got really good competition. From a kicker standpoint, we have Sander back, who has done a nice job. He and Alex Felkins, who came in, have competed every day,” Stacy Collins said this spring. “And we flipped those guys, who has worked with the ones, who’s worked with the twos, and they’ve got a heck of a competition going.”
Riley Thompson
No. 95 – 6-foot-1, 216 pounds
No. 5 punter
80.00 – three-star
Similarly to Felkins, Thompson’s impact at Penn State is going to be determined by the result of his competition with Alex Bacchetta this preseason.
“Punter-wise, it’s been a great competition. Alex Bacchetta came back for us. Alex is back after getting a little bit of play for us last year,” Collins said. “And then you’re bringing in Riley Thompson. Those two competing.
“And Gabe Nwosu has done a great job. He’s got a big-time leg. Gabe has done a great job with our kickoffs, he’s stood out from our kickoffs. And Mitch Groh’s in there competing also.”
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