Penn State lands first transfer portal commitment from top 10 OL

Penn State football got transfer portal season started right Monday with a significant addition to the offensive front. James Franklin and the Nittany Lions landed a commitment from Alan Herron, a sophomore OT from Shorter University in the Division II ranks. A top 10 OL currently in the portal, Herron was one of the fastest-rising transfer prospects available, and will slot into a position room that could lose several experienced playmakers in 2024. 

Penn State football lands top 10 OL Alan Herron via transfer portal

The transfer portal moves quickly, and such was the case for Penn State’s recruitment of Alan Herron. The Shorter University (GA) OT entered the portal on November 16 after his sophomore season with the Hawks. Since then, Herron has received 24 offers from Division I programs, including one from Penn State football on November 29. 

Herron was already on the radar after he popped up in State College on an official visit over the weekend. Evidently, the top 10 OL portal prospect liked what he saw. On Monday morning, Alan Herron announced his commitment to James Franklin and Penn State via social media. 

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Despite coming from Divison II, Herron was one of the hottest OL prospects in the transfer portal. Ranked as the No. 7 OL portal prospect nationally by 247Sports, Herron had visits scheduled with Texas Tech and Clemson before announcing his commitment. The Nittany Lions also beat out Auburn, Maryland, NC State, and Syracuse, among others, for Herron’s commitment. 

Nittany Lions get boost to the OL room

With the commitment, Alan Herron can look to add experience to an OL room that could be losing a veteran presence in the near future. 

Penn State football will lose C Hunter Nourzad from this year’s starting front. However, the status of several other starters is still unclear. Star LT Olu Fashanu is likely off to the NFL as a projected top-five Draft pick. But we’re still waiting on the decisions of several other veterans, primarily RT Caedan Wallace and RG Sal Wormley. 

While James Franklin and Phil Trautwein may still not be done attacking OLs in the transfer portal, the addition of Alan Herron will add a boost to the Penn State front for 2024 and beyond. 

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