BREAKING: Penn State football loses third WR of spring in late transfer portal exodus

Penn State football has lost a third wide receiver of the spring to a late transfer portal hit on Thursday. Reported by Pete Nakos and others, Nittany Lions wide receiver Malik McClain will enter the portal. McClain spent only one season with James Franklin and the Nittany Lions, coming to Happy Valley by way of Florida State last year. The exit is part of a late transfer portal exodus for the Nittany Lions in the final hours of the spring window.

Malik McClain exits Nittany Lions roster in late transfer portal departure

James Franklin and Penn State football suffered one final departure as the spring transfer portal window comes to a close, losing senior wide receiver Malik McClain on Thursday.

The spring portal window for undergraduate players ended on Tuesday night, while the entry deadline for graduate transfers was Wednesday. However, there is a 48-hour window for schools to process transfer portal requests. The news of McClain’s exit was first reported by Pete Nakos.

Penn State wide receiver Malik McClain has entered the transfer portal.

The former four-star started his career at Florida State. Has 39 career receptions for 467 yards and 6 touchdowns. https://t.co/VNvB2Ek6qR pic.twitter.com/BL0uqRVGEd

— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) May 2, 2024

Malik McClain popped early in his one season with Penn State football, posting four catches for 58 yards and a touchdown in the opening game versus West Virginia last fall. Though he would appear in all 13 games, McClain only recorded two receptions for 13 yards the remainder of the season. He did not have a catch after the Illinois matchup on September 16.

This is the second time Malik McClain has entered the transfer portal in as many seasons. In his first stint at Florida State, McClain had 33 receptions for 396 yards and five touchdowns over two seasons.

Penn State football suffering late spring portal exodus

While it was a relatively quiet spring transfer portal window for James Franklin and the Nittany Lions in terms of total numbers. The Nittany Lions lost three total players, including two wide receivers, before Tuesday’s deadline. 

But the names have started to build in the final hours of the two-day processing period. Earlier Thursday afternoon, sophomore safety King Mack was reported as entering the portal. McClain’s news comes with a wave of new departures, including London Montgomery, Golden Israel-Achumba, and David Kency.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation, the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlet. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at basicbluesnation@gmail.com or direct message us on our social media. Also, be sure to check out our new site shop. It’s due to your support that we can proudly claim a readership of over 3.5 million in our first year of operation.