Penn State football to host No. 1 transfer linebacker

James Franklin vowed that Penn State football would pursue top linebacker talent from the transfer portal as spring practice came to a close following Saturday’s Blue-White Game. Twenty-four hours later, the Nittany Lions appear to be making good on that promise.

First reported by Matt Zenitz of 247Sports, Penn State is preparing to welcome North Carolina’s Amare Campbell for a visit next weekend. The Nittany Lions will host the ex-Tar Heel after he visits SMU, according to the report.

Former North Carolina standout linebacker Amare Campbell is set to visit Penn State next weekend coming off a trip to SMU, his agency @APSportsAgency tells @CBSSports/@247Sports.

Campbell had 76 tackles and 6.5 sacks last year at North Carolina.https://t.co/10Sz3YwNKg pic.twitter.com/f2PkAF74qC

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) April 27, 2025

Campbell entered the transfer portal on April 22 after two years in Chapel Hill. He also entered the portal in December before withdrawing his name five days later.

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A native of Manassas, Virginia, Campbell appeared in 24 games for the Tar Heels. He broke out as a sophomore in 2024, recording 76 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. Campbell is the top available transfer linebacker according to On3. He is the second-rated linebacker to enter the portal this spring, behind former Army and new Georgia commit Elo Modozie.

“I think we’re in good shape, but there’s some concerns there,” Franklin said of the position on Saturday. “You know, we lost a guy that we didn’t anticipate losing [Ta’Mere Robinson]. As you guys know, we’re not a big portal team, but we’re going to have to address some issues. So, if there is a linebacker out there that wants to come and be a part of our program and play for LBU, the most historic linebacker program in the history of college football, there’s an opportunity here to join the room and compete. So we will look at that.”

There are 10 linebackers listed on the official Penn State football roster coming out of the spring. However, only Dom DeLuca, Tony Rojas, and DaKaari Nelson have extensive game experience. Redshirt junior Keon Wylie appeared in 13 games in 2023 but is working his way back onto the field after missing all of last fall with an injury.

“I think we got enough in the room, but to get through an entire season, if we get some injuries, it could get challenging,” Franklin said. “So, we’re going to look at the portal and see if we can find a solution. As you guys know, more times than not, we’d like it to be somebody that is connected to us and that we know, because we got a really good locker room. And I will make sure that we’re bringing the right people in our locker room. We’re very protective of that.”

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