Ex-Penn State football WR predicted to return to Sunshine State via transfer portal

After one year with Penn State football, Malik McClain is expected to return to the state of Florida. On3’s Pete Nakos and Steve Wiltfong placed a pair of predictions this weekend for McClain to return South and spend his final season of eligibility at UCF, where he is currently believed to be on campus. McClain entered the transfer portal on May 2, one of three Nittany Lion wide receivers to do so this spring.

Malik McClain predicted to commit to UCF

After a little over one week in the transfer portal, Malik McClain appears to be nearing a decision. On Saturday morning, Pete Nakos and Steve Wiltfong of On3 placed predictions for the former Penn State wide receiver to commit to UCF. Matt Zenitz of 247Sports reports that McClain is currently visiting with the Knights.

Ex-Penn State and Florida State wide receiver Malik McClain is currently visiting UCF, a source tells @247Sports.

UCF is in the market for another portal wide receiver. The former four-star recruit is one of the possibilities along with ex-Auburn receiver Ja’Varrius Johnson.… pic.twitter.com/SywPPFxL5v

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) May 11, 2024

“The 6-foot-4, 207-pound receiver is a former IMG prospect. With good route-running ability and size, he’s flashed at times in his career,” wrote Nakos. “Landing at UCF would give Malik McClain a reset on his college career. Losing him to the portal leaves Penn State with one less wide receiver; the Nittany Lions lost top returning wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith to the portal last month, too.”

Malik McClain officially entered the transfer portal on May 2 after one season with Penn State football, hauling in six catches for 71 yards and a touchdown. Before arriving in Happy Valley, McClain played two seasons at Florida State, where he had 33 receptions for 396 yards and five touchdowns.

Penn State football resetting at wide receiver

It was a turbulent spring transfer portal window for James Franklin and the Nittany Lions at wide receiver. As Nakos noted, Penn State football also lost its leading receiver from 2023, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who committed to Auburn. Malick Meiga entered the portal as well, making his pledge to Coastal Carolina Thursday. A fourth wideout, Carmelo Taylor, has left the program for undisclosed reasons.

Penn State is set to bring in three receivers from the 2024 cycle — Josiah Brown, Tyseer Denmark, and Peter Gonzalez — this summer. Gonzalez, a top-10 in-state prospect from Pittsburgh Central Catholic, arrives this weekend.

However, James Franklin will turn to many of the same faces he did last fall in the hope of making an impact. Battling injury for much of 2023, Trey Wallace is expected to have a significant role this fall. Wallace led all Nittany Lion receivers in the Peach Bowl, as well as the Blue-White Game.

Liam Clifford also appears to be taking on a prominent spot in the rotation for 2024. And if there’s a time for Kaden Saunders and Omari Evans to come into their own, it’s now. The Nittany Lions also added Julian Fleming from the transfer portal this winter. Fleming is a definite value-add in the locker room, but has struggled with injuries throughout his career.

“I love our wide receivers. They have a bunch of talent in the room,” Franklin said after the Blue-White Game. “I think they got a chance to take the next step. I believe they’re going to take the next step. I think [receivers coach] Marques [Hagans] has done a really good job this spring. This summer is going to be really important. The positive thing is in college football you can improve in the passing game in the summer. We’re going to do those things. We believe in them.”

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