Former Penn State linebacker visiting USC in transfer portal

Penn State football lost up-and-coming redshirt sophomore linebacker Ta’Mere Robinson to the transfer portal on Wednesday. Two days later, the western Pennsylvania product has hit the West Coast in search of a new program.

Robinson is visiting with Big Ten adversary USC this weekend, he posted on his Instagram Friday. The No. 2 recruit in the Keystone State out of high school, Robinson is the No. 7 linebacker available in the portal according to 247Sports.

Former Penn State linebacker Ta’Mere Robinson is visiting USC, per his Instagram pic.twitter.com/aUYJaxtHSj

— Joel Haas (@Joel_Haas1) April 18, 2025

After missing his entire senior season of high school with an injury and playing in three games as a true freshman, Robinson made 14 appearances in 2024. He finishes his Penn State football career with 13 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.

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Robinson’s departure has been the most significant blow to the Nittany Lions so far in the spring portal window. With a relatively young and unproven linebacker room,  the Penn State coaching staff was looking to the former four-star to take a significant step forward this fall.

“As you guys know, Ta’Mere was a big get for us. I’ve always felt like he’s had a very, very bright future,” James Franklin said earlier this month. “He’s had some injuries that have been setbacks for him, so getting him back healthy and confident playing fast, he’s really flashing right now. Obviously, with [Tony] Rojas being out [this spring], that’s more reps than he’s able to get.

“So sometimes those injuries with experienced players, sometimes they’re a blessing in disguise, because it creates opportunities for guys like Ta’Mere to get a ton of reps. He’s been good. He’s been really good. And I just think, as much as anything, it’s his confidence in being able to just go out there and play and not be thinking about the injuries that he’s had in the past. So playing very well right now, but we’re going to need to continue that all summer and then into the season next year. But right now, he’s trending in a direction that we had hoped when we recruited him.”

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