Former Penn State defender announces transfer to junior college program

After just one year in Happy Valley, TA Cunningham is getting a reset on his college career. Seven weeks after departing from the Penn State football program, the freshman defensive tackle announced that he will be taking his next steps at the junior college level.

Cunningham announced his transfer to Garden City Community College on Friday night. The ex-Nittany Lion entered the transfer portal on December 9, two days after Penn State’s appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game.

#JUCOPRODUCT pic.twitter.com/xZopa7uxj9

— T.A. CUNNINGHAM (@_getlikealex) January 25, 2025

Cunningham did not appear in game action during his lone season with Penn State football. A three-star, Cunningham had offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech, and USC, among others, during his recruitment in the 2024 recruiting cycle.

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Located in Garden City, Kansas, Garden City Community College is the former home of Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill. The program has won 12 Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference championships and a national title in 2016. The school has produced 139 All-Americans at the National Junior College Athletic Association level.

Tracking the latest Penn State football transfer portal movement

TA Cunningham becomes the seventh former Nittany Lion to announce a landing spot out of the transfer portal this winter. Penn State football saw 11 players enter the portal in total. Cunningham was the first of three defenders to leave the program, followed by defensive backs Cam Miller and Tyrece Mills.

Roster departures (11)

• Feyisayo Oluleye, WR – Entered portal on November 13.
• Jerry Cross, TE – Entered portal on December 2. Committed to Memphis on December 21.
• TA Cunningham, DL – Entered portal on December 9. Committed to Garden City Community College on January 24.
• Beau Pribula, QB – Entered portal on December 15. Committed to Missouri on December 22.
• Jason Estrella, WR – Entered portal on December 27.
• Mehki Flowers, WR – Entered portal on January 13.
• Tyler Johnson, WR – Entered portal on January 13. Committed to ECU on January 18. 
• Cam Miller, CB – Entered portal on January 13. Committed to Rutgers on January 16. 
• Tyrece Mills, S – Entered portal on January 14.
• Omari Evans, WR – Entered portal on January 14. Committed to Washington on January 22.
• Harrison Wallace III, WR – Entered portal on January 15. Committed to Ole Miss on January 19.

Roster additions (6)

• Kyron Hudson, WR – Entered portal from USC on December 5. Committed on December 16.
• Enai White, DE – Entered portal from Texas A&M on December 11. Committed on December 20.
• Devonte Ross, WR – Entered portal from Troy on December 16. Committed on December 24.
• TJ Shanahan, OL – Entered portal from Texas A&M on December 9. Committed on January 10.
• Owen Wafle, DL – Entered portal from Michigan on January 2. Committed on January 11.
• King Mack, S – Entered portal from Alabama on January 3. Committed on January 9.

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