Former Penn State football target, 5 star CB hits transfer portal

If bowl games are intended to be a preview for next season, then Penn State football may be a little startled by what it witnessed on the defensive side of the ball in Saturday’s Peach Bowl loss to Ole Miss. Without their two top CBs, the Nittany Lions struggled to stop the Rebels’ passing attack en route to a 38-25 defeat. While there is promising young talent in the room, it became evident that James Franklin and his staff may need to watch the transfer portal for a veteran presence in the defensive backfield. The Nittany Lions may be in luck, as Tony Grimes, a former five-star CB and Penn State target in the class of 2020, entered this portal this week.

Texas A&M CB Tony Grimes hits the transfer portal

Saturday’s Peach Bowl was a frustrating loss for a Penn State team that claimed the title of the nation’s top defense all season. With opt-outs from starting CBs Kalen King and Johnny Dixon, the Nittany Lions allowed the most points, passing yards, and total yards of any game this year in a 38-25 loss to Ole Miss.

Any hopes for a coming out party from Penn State’s young corners Cam Miller, Zion Tracy, and Elliot Washington were quickly turned into a trial by fire, as the Rebels put up 394 yards through the air. Although Ole Miss has one of the best WR rooms in the country, it became evident Saturday that the Nittany Lions may need to look at the transfer portal to fill the void left by exiting veterans King, Dixon, and Daequan Hardy.

Less than 48 hours after the loss in Atlanta, former five-star CB and No. 1 player in Virginia for the 2020 cycle, Tony Grimes, entered the transfer portal from Texas A&M. Grimes announced his intentions to enter the portal Monday after redshirting with the Aggies this fall due to injury. He previously had 97 tackles and one interception as a member of the North Carolina football program from 2020 to 2022.

Former Penn State target spoke highly of James Franklin, Nittany Lions coaching staff during recruitment

Before committing to the Tar Heels, James Franklin and Penn State football were in the mix for Tony Grimes during his original recruitment. The former five-star prospect took three unofficial visits to Happy Valley in 2019 and 2020.

Grimes was highly complimentary of Franklin and the Penn State coaching staff as a high school recruit. “Terry Smith has been my favorite coach for a long time,” Grimes told 247Sports in April 2020. “Coach Franklin has a good heart. He has a good personality, a good coach. Coach Terry Smith is family-oriented. I love his family.”

Ultimately, it may make sense for Penn State to kick the tires and see if Tony Grimes is interested in coming to Happy Valley. Franklin tried a similar approach last offseason with Storm Duck, who re-entered the transfer portal after spring practice. The Nittany Lions also landed transfer CB Audavion Collins from Mississippi State, who appeared in four games this season.

The winter transfer portal window closes on Tuesday, but players on teams that played in bowl games on or after December 29 get five additional days to transfer. As a result, Nittany Lions can still enter the portal until January 4. Penn State’s spring semester starts on January 8, meaning Franklin and the Nittany Lions will have a week to get any prospects on campus if they wish to participate in spring ball.

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