Former top-rated Penn State football commit hits the transfer portal

The 2020 season is one many Penn State football fans would like to forget. Much of the 2020 season was bad on the field but off the field wasn’t much better. Recruiting was not easy for James Franklin during this time, and decisions were made over Zoom calls instead of in person. Now, fast forward a few years later, times have changed, and the transfer portal has taken over the offseason. As a one-time former top-rated Penn State football commit, tight end Holden Staes, has entered his name in the portal.

Former top-rated Penn State football commit hits the transfer portal

Holden Staes, a tight end for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, entered his name in the NCAA transfer portal on Friday afternoon. A four-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, Staes is a player that James Franklin and the Nittany Lions are quite familiar with.

Back in August of 2020, Staes made his commitment to the Penn State football team. But early into 2021, he decided to de-commit from the Nittany Lions. A few months later, he made his commitment to Brian Kelly and Notre Dame.

One-time Penn State commit. https://t.co/zrMNwfGgEi

— Sean Fitz (@SeanFitzOn3) December 1, 2023

Unfortunately, his career has not taken off like he wanted. He is coming off of a career year with the Fighting Irish. In 2023 he racked up 15 receptions for 176 yards and 4 touchdowns. But does adding him to the current Penn State roster make sense?

Should Penn State target this former commit?

At this point, the fit doesn’t make sense for Holden Staes at Penn State. But that depends on some decisions that will be made over the next few weeks.

Specifically, what will Theo Johnson and Tyler Warren decide to do? They both have a choice to go to the NFL or return to State College next season. It’s possible if they both left that James Franklin could see a path to adding a player like Staes.

The other thing you have to remember is we have just seen the beginning of Khalil Dinkins, Andrew Rappleyea, and once the 2024 Nittany Lion commit gets on campus in Luke Reynolds.

The future is bright at Penn State with the tight end room, but will James Franklin dip into the portal to add a player he is familiar with? We will see over the next few weeks.

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