Linebacker U could use another one or two, and James Franklin isn’t afraid to admit it. After Penn State’s Blue-White Game on Saturday, Franklin acknowledged Penn State’s lack of depth at linebacker after the unexpected departure of Ta’Mere Robinson in the spring portal window.
“We aren’t a big portal team, but we’re going to address some issues,” Franklin told reporters on Saturday. Then, he sent a message directly to potential transfers. “If there’s a linebacker out there that wants to 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 to join the room.” Penn State looking to add linebacker depth through the transfer portal
Franklin’s primary approach to the transfer portal and his program’s NIL dollars is retention, and he’s done a great job keeping his most talented players in Happy Valley. This offseason, Franklin convinced Drew Allar, Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen, Dani Dennis-Sutton, and Zane Durant to hold off their inevitable NFL careers for another run at a national championship next season.
However, in the spring window, Franklin has shown some real aggressiveness, fitting of a coach who hasn’t beaten his program’s biggest rival since 2016 and finished last season a game away from playing that team for a national title.
Penn State has already brought in a much-needed wide receiver, Trebor Pena, who led the ACC in receptions for Syracuse last season. Now, Franklin is laying down the gauntlet for potential transfer portal linebackers. Tony Rojas is entrenched in his starting role, likely next to Dom DeLuca, who starred in the Nittany Lions’ first-round College Football Playoff win over SMU
