Penn State football: Two transfer portal needs following the spring game

The 2023 Nittany Lions are looking solid all over the field. However, two positions could use some extra attention throughout the final few months leading up to the fall opener against West Virginia. Following the Blue/White game on Saturday, Penn State football head coach James Franklin pointed to two positions that the Nittany Lions could go after during the second transfer portal period. Here are the two Penn State transfer portal needs leading up to the season.

Penn State transfer portal needs ahead of the 2023 college football season

Following Penn State’s Blue/White spring game, head coach James Franklin said that the Nittany Lions are back in a similar spot as they were in 2019 regarding the team’s depth. Still, Penn State football has two significant needs leading up to its Week 1 matchup with the Mountaineers on September 2nd: wide receiver depth and defensive tackle depth. Both of these needs can be addressed in the transfer portal, which re-opened on Saturday.

What did James Franklin say about depth needs following the spring game?

Here is what Penn State coach James Franklin said about his team’s depth needs and what he might look for in the transfer portal.

“I think we’re in a good place right now, but I think we need more depth and more competition at D-Tackle,” James Franklin said after the Blue/White game. “I think we need more depth and competition at wide receiver. I think we could get by West Virginia — or by game four or game five — I think we could have six guys that we feel good about. But it’s not competitive … I want there to be legitimate competition at every position.

“The phones are buzzing,” Franklin said about the transfer portal. “It’s all over the place right now, it’s crazy. I addressed it with our team in the locker room afterwards. But those two positions (defensive tackle and wide receiver) specifically [are portal needs], and then a great difference-maker at any position.”

With the 2023 college football transfer portal back open, look for Penn State football to go after some extra wide receivers and defensive tackles to address one of the team’s final remaining depth concerns ahead of the fall opener.

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