Penn State football transfer portal: Former 4-star PSU target is back on the market

Last weekend, the spring transfer portal window opened — this is the second time that the portal has opened following the 2022 season. For Penn State football, head coach James Franklin was very straightforward about his team’s needs heading into the 2023 season this fall: wide receiver depth and defensive tackle depth. While he feels pretty good about both positions right now, he claims he wants “more competition” at both positions. This week, a former 4-star defensive tackle target of Franklin’s — Tywone Malone — hit the portal and could be precisely what the Nittany Lions need.

Penn State football needs help at defensive tackle

Tywone Malone, the former No. 1 recruit in New Jersey, was a Penn State football target during the 2021 recruiting cycle. Despite missing out the first time around, with Malone opting to commit to Ole Miss, Penn State could be right back in the running seeing as he just re-opened his recruitment by entering the transfer portal.

Penn State football has some depth issues at defensive tackle with PJ Mustipher leaving. Some young players — such as sophomore Zane Durant — have been stepping up during spring ball; however, James Franklin claims that his Nittany Lions still need some help at D-Tackle. In fact, Franklin specifically stated that DT would be a position that Penn State targeted in the transfer portal following the Blue/White game last weekend.

Former 4-star defensive tackle target could be the answer

There is plenty of talent in the transfer portal right now, though Malone being a former four-star regional prospect for Penn State could turn some heads among the coaching staff. As a recruit, Malone was a four-star defensive tackle target for Penn State football and was ranked as the No. 63 recruit nationally, the No. 11 defensive tackle, and the No. 1 recruit in New Jersey in the 2021 recruiting class.

Malone has a 6-foot-4, 305-pound frame and could be what James Franklin has been looking for to beef up the interior of Penn State’s formidable Big Ten defensive line. With great rushing teams — such as the Michigan Wolverines — in the conference, landing some top-ranked defensive linemen will be the difference between wins and losses for Penn State, and Malone may be a perfect fit due to his size and regional ties.

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