FB RECRUITING

Former Penn State RB visits SEC program

Could Keyvone Lee make a transfer portal move down south?

Published

2 months ago

April 17, 2023

Former Penn State RB, SEC program, Transfer portal

Sep 1, 2022; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Keyvone Lee (24) catches the game winning touchdown in the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Like most college football programs, Penn State has not been immune to roster turnover in recent years. However, the transfer portal hit the Nittany Lions’ running back room particularly hard last year. Following the 2021 season, Noah Cain returned to his native Louisiana and joined the LSU program. Shortly into fall camp, Caziah Holmes made a similar move by transferring to Florida State. By the end of the season, the roster churn was almost nearly complete, as Keyvone Lee — the opening day starter for Penn State — announced his intention to transfer. With the transfer portal reopening on Saturday, the former Penn State RB popped up down south when he visited an SEC program.

Keyvone Lee carried Penn State’s running game through dark years

Last year, Penn State’s running game was defined by two freshmen, Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen. The duo has received a lot of praise for a good reason. Penn State did not have a 1,000-yard rusher in three years before last season. Singleton finished with 1,061 yards, while Allen had 867. The duo combined for over 2,000 all-purpose yards. But despite this success, Penn State lost a veteran running back who carried the Nittany Lions’ running game in previous seasons.

Keyvone Lee entered the transfer portal early in January. In years when Penn State struggled running the football, Lee was the top back. In eight games in his freshman season in 2020, Lee ran for 438 yards with 4 TDs. During his sophomore season, Lee ran for 530 yards and 2 TDs. Coming into his junior year, we expected to see more of the same from Lee. But those plans changed with the emergence of Singleton and Allen. Hampered by injury, Lee only played in five games in 2022 and ran for a mere 94 yards.

But Keyvone Lee still impacted Penn State’s 2022 Rose Bowl run. Lee’s game-winning touchdown catch against Purdue in the 2022 opener will be remembered by the Nittany Lion faithful for years to come.

Keyvone Lee appreciation tweet 💙🤍

pic.twitter.com/9Zka0BLVkm

— No Names All Game (@nonamesallgame) January 13, 2023

Lee was a veteran running back for Penn State. Veteran leadership is one of the most critical factors of an elite football team. Singleton and Allen undoubtedly benefitted from having someone to look up to. Losing Lee will hurt Penn State. But Lee should get a lot more playing time and the ability to show his talent at another program.

Former Penn State RB visits SEC program

Keyvone Lee has yet to decide where he will play next season and has been relatively quiet with his plans thus far. But he has posted some things on Twitter that may suggest his potential landing spots.

Lee has posted about Colorado after Deion Sanders was hired as head coach. When Cadillac Willaims was named Associate Head Coach (and kept his RB coach title) at Auburn, Lee tweeted a couple of eagle emojis. In addition, Lee confirmed he was still in the transfer portal when somebody tweeted about Lee joining his former teammate Ta’Quan Roberson at UConn. While none of this is an exact science, Lee posting about these teams shows that he is at least some interest in them.

Already tuned in https://t.co/InU6eT7yfY

— keyvone lee (@KeyvoneL) January 14, 2023

The most definitive sign we have seen from Lee was a tweet on April 12. Lee retweeted a post from Mississippi State (and added a map pin emoji) about the Bulldogs’ spring game, which took place on Saturday. Multiple outlets later confirmed that there is mutual interest between the Bulldogs and Lee.

📍 https://t.co/KdiTUrQAuY

— keyvone lee (@KeyvoneL) April 12, 2023

While we have yet to see any additional comment from Lee regarding the visit with this SEC program last weekend, this is the most significant development in his transfer portal recruitment by far. With the portal open for the next several weeks, we should expect additional movement from the former Penn State running back. It should only be a matter of time before Keyvone Lee finds his next program.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at basicbluesnation@gmail.com or direct message us on our social media. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlets!

Up Next

Four-star regional Penn State recruiting target sets commitment date

Don't Miss

Recruiting: Penn State football takes the lead with No. 1 player in Wisconsin

Click to comment

FB RECRUITING

Penn State football trending with No. 1 recruit in Virginia

Penn State football is battling for the No. 1 recruit in Virginia, a major linebacker target.

Published

2 hours ago

June 5, 2023

Chris Mangum

Penn State football, No. 1 recruit in Virginia

Nov 14, 2020; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Curtis Jacobs (23) tackles Nebraska Cornhuskers wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (1) in the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

Yesterday, a highly anticipated football recruit, Chris Cole, visited Happy Valley, home of Penn State football. The visit proved to be a resounding success as Cole had an exceptional experience interacting with head coach James Franklin and the coaching staff. According to the RPM (Recruiting Prediction Machine), the Nittany Lions are positioned to take the lead in securing the commitment of this immensely talented four-star prospect. Currently, Penn State holds the second-best odds among all the schools vying for Cole’s commitment.

Had an Amazing time in the Happy Valley this weekend !! Thanks for having me.#WeAre 🦁@PennStateFball @coachjfranklin @Coach_MannyDiaz @Coachpoindexter pic.twitter.com/MvwpTOyjjW

— Chris Cole (@Chris_Cole3) June 4, 2023

Penn State football trending with No. 1 recruit in Virginia

Penn State football’s well-deserved reputation as “Linebacker U” continues to hold strong, and the program aims to uphold this legacy in the coming years. Chris Cole, an impressive four-star linebacker from Salen High School in Virginia, made his presence felt on campus during his visit last weekend. All indications point to positive developments for James Franklin and his 2024 recruiting class at this juncture.

According to the respected 247 Sports rankings, Chris Cole holds an impressive standing. He is currently regarded as the No. 65 player in the nation, the sixth-best linebacker in the 2024 class, and the top recruit in Virginia. These rankings underscore his exceptional talent and potential.

At present, Virginia Tech, Georgia, Notre Dame, and Penn State football emerge as the frontrunners in the race for Cole’s commitment. The RPM predicts that the Nittany Lions are in second place and gaining momentum. If his recent visit is any indication, with its positive outcome, Penn State may have a strong chance of securing a commitment from Cole before the end of the 2024 recruiting cycle. Acquiring the No. 1 recruit in Virginia would undoubtedly be a significant triumph for Penn State football, boosting their recruiting efforts as they approach the summer and the 2023 season.

FB RECRUITING

Penn State football ties major national powers for most commits in 2024 class

Penn State football recruiting has the most commits in the country.

Published

7 hours ago

June 5, 2023

Chris Mangum

Jan 2, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin speaks in a press conference after defeating the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Yesterday, Penn State football recruiting landed three new commitments: two three-star players and one four-star defender. With these three brand new recruits, the Nittany Lions are now tied with some of the nation’s best programs, such as Michigan and Notre Dame, for the most commits in the 2024 recruiting class. James Franklin boosted his class from 14 commits to 17 during the first Sunday of June, which is a great indicator of even bigger success to come.

Penn State football recruiting lands 3 commits in one day

The first weekend of June is an eagerly anticipated time for Penn State football recruiting fans. In college football, June holds great significance as it marks the beginning of the official visit season, and Penn State has a strong understanding of this importance. Head Coach James Franklin has consistently proven himself as a dominant recruiter during official visits, and once again, he showcased his prowess by securing commitments from three highly sought-after prospects in just a matter of days.

Kicking off the weekend, in the early afternoon, Penn State received a commitment from Deryc Plazz, a three-star lineman hailing from Florida. Plazz’s decision to choose Penn State is a significant win for the program, as he had been a target of the team’s recruitment efforts for an extended period.

Following Plazz’s announcement, three-star defensive end Xavier Gilliam from Maryland also committed to Penn State. Gilliam’s commitment further strengthens the Nittany Lions’ defense and adds depth to their 2024 recruiting class.

Lastly, in the late evening, Penn State secured a commitment from Dejaun Lane, a four-star safety/linebacker. Lane’s decision to join the Nittany Lions’ program is a testament to their relentless pursuit and the appeal of playing for a prestigious football program.

These three commitments carry immense significance for Penn State football. Not only were these recruits high-priority targets for the team, but their decisions are also expected to bolster Penn State’s 2024 class in the composite rankings. Additionally, with these commitments, Penn State joins the ranks of several top programs in terms of the number of recruits secured, further solidifying their standing in the college football landscape.

Nittany Lions tie national powers for No. 1 spot in commits

Penn State football has made an impressive start to their 2024 recruiting class. With 17 hard commitments, they currently boast one of the highest numbers of commits among college football programs nationwide. In fact, only three other teams, namely Michigan, Notre Dame, and Wake Forrest, are on par with Penn State with their own 17 commitments in the 2024 class.

This early success in the recruiting cycle is certainly promising for Penn State. It indicates that the program is attracting talented prospects and solidifying its standing as a competitive force in college football. The fact that these positive developments have transpired within the first few days of June further suggests that Penn State football is on an upward trajectory, generating excitement and optimism among fans and supporters.

FB RECRUITING

BREAKING: Penn State football lands four-star defender Dejuan Lane

Penn State football is getting its summer recruiting off on the right foot.

Published

17 hours ago

June 4, 2023

Matt Thomas

Penn State Football, four-star safety Dejuan Lane

April 15, 2023. Penn State football coach James Franklin enters Beaver Stadium prior to the annual Blue-White Game. Credit: Grace Carella // Basic Blues Nation.

June starts a busy and important month for Penn State football recruiting. James Franklin and the Nittany Lions kicked off the month by hosting close to 15 prospects in Happy Valley over the weekend. Those official visits are already bearing fruit, as Penn State has earned a commitment from four-star defender Dejuan Lane.

Penn State football lands four-star defender Dejuan Lane

Dejuan Lane is a four-star safety/linebacker in the class of 2024 out of the Gilman School in Baltimore, Maryland. 247Sports rates Lane as the 21st overall safety in the country and the 6th-best prospect in Maryland for the 2024 cycle. The 6-2, 200-pound prospect has such a large frame that outlets such as On3 have Lane listed as a linebacker rather than a safety.

Penn State has been trending in Lane’s recruitment for the last several weeks. On3 put in a prediction for the Nittany Lions to land Lane before his visit to Happy Valley on the weekend of June 2. Dejuan Lane chose Penn State over North Carolina, Georgia, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma, among others.

Nittany Lions recruiting is ready to take off this summer

James Franklin and his staff are poised for a massive summer on the recruiting trail. Coming into the weekend, Penn State football had the No. 7 overall class in the country for 2024, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. At the start of the weekend, half of Penn State’s 14 committed prospects were four-stars. Others, like recently committed quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, are expected to rise to four-star status before signing day.

Lane is the third commit from a handful of top prospects on campus this weekend. The Nittany Lions are also set to host top wide receiver prospect Nick Marsh next weekend, who is currently projected to land at Penn State. Overall, all this means that a string of summer commitments could soon be underway for the Nittany Lions.