James Franklin was hoping for “no surprises” in the second transfer portal period, but on Wednesday, Penn State football got its first eyebrow-raising departure in the spring window. Redshirt sophomore linebacker Ta’Mere Robinson is expected to enter the portal, according to Hayes Fawcett of On3.
A consensus four-star prospect from Brashear High School in western Pennsylvania, Robinson was ranked as the No. 2 recruit in the state by 247Sports despite missing his senior season with an injury. After playing in three games as a true freshman, Robinson made 14 appearances last fall, making 11 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
One of the more unproven rooms on the Nittany Lions roster, Robinson was pushing for a prominent role among the linebackers this spring.
“As you guys know, Ta’Mere was a big get for us. I’ve always felt like he’s had a very, very bright future,” James Franklin said last week. “He’s had some injuries that have been setbacks for him, so getting him back healthy and confident playing fast, he’s really flashing right now. Obviously, with [Tony] Rojas being out [this spring], that’s more reps than he’s able to get.
“So sometimes those injuries with experienced players, sometimes they’re a blessing in disguise, because it creates opportunities for guys like Ta’Mere to get a ton of reps. He’s been good. He’s been really good. And I just think, as much as anything, it’s his confidence in being able to just go out there and play and not be thinking about the injuries that he’s had in the past. So playing very well right now, but we’re going to need to continue that all summer and then into the season next year. But right now, he’s trending in a direction that we had hoped when we recruited him.”
Penn State football transfer portal tracker
Robinson is the third name to enter the portal for Penn State football already this spring. He is the second defender, following corner Jon Mitchell, who entered earlier on Wednesday.
The portal will remain open until next Friday.
Outgoing transfers
- JB Nelson, OL – Entered the transfer portal on April 14.
- Jon Mitchell, CB – Entered the transfer portal on April 16.
- Ta’Mere Robinson, LB – Entered the transfer portal on April 16.
Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation, one of the fastest-growing outlets covering Penn State athletics. Part of the Full Ride network, we are an alumni-owned, community-operated, credentialed media outlet dedicated to providing you with updated and reliable insights for all your favorite Nittany Lion sports. Whether it’s Penn State football, basketball, wrestling, or anything in between, you can find it all on Basic Blues Nation!
Please follow us on our social channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and subscribe to our newsletter on Substack for breaking news and notifications. For feedback, questions, or concerns, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on social media.