Penn State football loses veteran DT to transfer portal

Penn State football is losing a veteran defender just weeks before the start of spring practice. On Thursday night, DT Jordan van den Berg announced plans to enter the transfer portal as a graduate transfer. The redshirt junior becomes the fifth scholarship player and eighth player overall to hit the transfer portal this offseason for James Franklin and the Nittany Lions.

Veteran DT Jordan van den Berg to enter transfer portal

Late Thursday night, multiple outlets reported that veteran DT Jordan van den Berg was no longer with the Penn State football program. The Nittany Lion defender confirmed the news, announcing his plans to enter the transfer portal as a graduate transfer. While the portal window is closed, graduates may enter at any time. The redshirt junior will have two years of eligibility remaining for his next program.

“I would like to start by thanking Coach Franklin, Coach Barnes, Coach T, and the rest of the Penn State staff and community for an amazing three seasons,” van den Berg wrote on social media. “It was an honor to be a part of Penn State.

“I would like to thank all my teammates for all the amazing memories and lifelong friendships we created. I would like to thank God for always guiding me and giving me direction in life. With that all being said, I’ll be entering the transfer portal next week as a Grad transfer with two years of eligibility.”

Thank you Penn State! pic.twitter.com/Xo5q4mnFPJ

— Jordan van den Berg (@JordanvandenB12) March 1, 2024

Jordan van den Berg came to Penn State in 2021 by way of Iowa Western Community College. Praised for his efforts in the weight room, van den Berg recorded 26 tackles and 2.5 sacks in three seasons for the Nittany Lions. The South African native posted two tackles in December’s Peach Bowl loss to Ole Miss.

While the timing may be atypical, departures were expected given that Penn State football is over its scholarship limitation. The Nittany Lions return the majority of their depth on the defensive interior in 2024, including Dvon Ellies, Zane Durant, and Hakeem Beamon, who all started games in 2023, as well as Coziah Izzard.

Penn State football transfer portal tracker

Jordan van den Berg becomes the eighth Penn State football player to enter the transfer portal since the end of the 2023 regular season. He is the fifth scholarship player to enter the portal, joining Dante Cephas, Cristian Driver, Alex Bacchetta, and Ibrahim Traore. Traore is the only one of those four who has yet to announce a transfer destination.

Three additional non-scholarship players also entered the transfer portal this offseason: Jace Tutty, Jake Wilson, and Mason Stahl.

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