Former Penn State football target, starting ACC LT enters transfer portal

The Penn State football team will need to replace both starting tackles ahead of the 2024 season. The depth has been developed over the 2022 and 2023 seasons but there’s no guarantee that all of the underclassmen are prepared to be starters. A new opportunity has presented itself for the Nittany Lions. Diego Pounds, the starting left tackle for the North Carolina Tar Heels in 2023, has entered the transfer portal.

Should Penn State reunite with this ACC starting LT in the portal?

Diego Pounds was a three-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class. He officially entered the transfer portal on January 4th after playing as the starting LT for UNC in 2023. You have to keep in mind how challenging the 2021 recruiting process was for coaches all over the country. With the COVID-19 restrictions, many players could not visit campuses or even meet in person with coaches and staff members.

So, Pounds, a native of Raleigh, NC, made a safe decision by committing to North Carolina, and he has played there since the 2021 season. The Penn State football team did offer him a scholarship, but he never visited Penn State, according to his 247sports recruiting profile.

There was a time during his high school recruitment when many had Diego Pounds penciled in as an eventual member of Penn State's 2021 recruiting class. Didn't turn out that way.

The Nittany Lions don't have any remaining offensive linemen from 2021 recruiting class. https://t.co/qWzY71WYjh

— Tyler Donohue (@TDsTake) January 4, 2024

Offensive Tackle Rotation at Penn State

Olu Fashanu and Caedan Wallace have made their decisions to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft. We saw during the Peach Bowl Drew Shelton, who made starts during his freshman season in 2022, play left tackle. Caedan Wallace did suit up and play a few series against Ole Miss.

However, it was Anthony Donkoh who stepped in at right tackle when Wallace was off the field. Those two are the likely leaders at both tackle positions. But don’t count out 2023 five-star prospect Jven Williams either next season. At the end of the day, Penn State has the depth, but the starting experience would be helpful by adding Pounds.

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