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TRANSFER PORTAL

Two top-ranked transfers expected to commit to Penn State

The Nittany Lions are expected to kick off their rebuild with two massive transfer additions.

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Penn State basketball, top-ranked transfer portal recruits
Mar 17, 2023; Albany, NY, USA; Virginia Commonwealth Rams head coach Mike Rhoades instructs his team against the St. Mary's Gaels during the first half at MVP Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Historically, Penn State University is not known as a “basketball school” by any means. Still, during the 2022-23 season, fans became incredibly invested as the Penn State basketball team made a historical run; the Nittany Lions finished the season 23-14 overall with the program’s first NCAA tournament berth since 2011 and its first tournament win since 2001. Shortly after the season ended (with a loss to Texas in the Round of 32), former head coach Micah Shrewsberry bolted for Notre Dame — since then, the Lions have hired former VCU coach Mike Rhoades. With only two scholarship players remaining on the roster, Penn State will need a lot of help from the transfer portal and is currently expected to land two top-ranked transfer portal recruits ahead of next season.

Penn State basketball expected to land top top 75 transfers

When Micah Shrewsberry left, the remaining Penn State basketball players flocked to the portal, leaving the Lions with two scholarship players. While that was not a fun experience for Penn State fans, the same happened to VCU when Mike Rhoades left, and he is currently expected to bring a few of his top-ranked transfer portal recruits from the A-10 with him.

Ace Baldwin

The first top 75 player that Penn State basketball is favored to land is A-10 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year Ace Baldwin. Baldwin had an incredible season with the VCU Rams a season ago, helping lead his team to an A-10 tournament title and the team’s third NCAA tournament berth in six seasons under Mike Rhoades’ direction.

Baldwin is ranked 11th in the 247 Sports transfer portal rankings — he is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound guard from Baltimore, MD, and averaged 12.7 points per game and 5.9 assists per game during his most recent campaign. He currently has two crystal balls to wind up at Penn State basketball.

Jalen DeLoach

The second top 75 transfer that is expected to come to Penn State basketball is Jalen DeLoach, another former VCU Ram. DeLoach is a 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward and is ranked as the No. 75 player in the transfer portal according to 247 Sports.

DeLoach had a standout year in 2022-23, averaging 9.7 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game, and one assist per game during VCU’s most recent season. Out of high school, DeLoach was ranked as the No. 51 power forward and the No. 18 player in Georgia by 247 — he recently included Penn State basketball in his top 6 and is expected to follow Mike Rhoades to State College all said and done.



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TRANSFER PORTAL

Former Penn State football standout commits to Notre Dame

Ford becomes the latest Nittany Lion from across several sports that Penn State has lost to the Irish this offseason.

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Penn State Football, Devyn Ford, Notre Dame
Penn State's Devyn Ford (28) rushes the ball into the end zone Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The Penn State football running back room has been in flux over the last year. In less than 12 months, the running backs on the Nittany Lions’ roster have almost completely turned over. But as Penn State fans look forward to the leaps that rising sophomores Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen could make in 2023, several former Nittany Lion running backs are finding their new homes. One of these former tailbacks, Devyn Ford, recently announced that he is transferring to Notre Dame.

Penn State running back room changes hands

Penn State’s running backs have been getting a lot of attention recently. The emergence of Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen as freshmen last year took the team from 7-6 to 11-2 and a Rose Bowl victory. Penn State added to its talented running back room when they got Trey Potts from Minnesota via the transfer portal this winter.

But there must be out with the old when there is in with the new. Penn State lost Caziah Holmes, who is originally from Florida, to Florida State before last season. Noah Cain also went back to his home state after the 2021 season. Cain played for his hometown LSU Tigers and scored 10 touchdowns last season. After the 2022 season, Penn State running back Keyvone Lee transferred to Mississippi State. Lee was Penn State’s workhorse back during the 2021 season. Lee also had one of the biggest plays of Penn State’s Rose Bowl campaign season, catching a last-minute touchdown pass from Sean Clifford to beat Purdue. 

During the middle of last season, Devyn Ford, another veteran Penn State running back, left the team and later entered the transfer portal. After remaining in the portal throughout spring, Ford recently announced where he’ll be playing football this fall. 

Devyn Ford transfers to Notre Dame

On Friday, Devyn Ford announced that he is transferring to Notre Dame. Ford was rated as a four-star by 247Sports in 2019 and ranked as the country’s fifth-best running back. He was joined by Noah Cain, another four-star in 2019, and was supposed to be a two-headed snake in the backfield. Although both had some success in Happy Valley, neither experienced the production that I think many fans hoped for on signing day.

Ford had 769 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns in his four years at Penn State. By far, Ford’s most successful years were 2019 and 2020. The Stafford, Virginia native had 324 and 298 all-purpose yards in 2019 and 2020, respectively. But Ford only played in 12 games over the past two seasons. As Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen surged, Ford only appeared in four games last season. Ford was primarily used in pass protection and only recorded 68 total yards.

Recently when Penn State fans talk about a player transferring to Notre Dame, you’d likely assume they’re talking about basketball. Kebba Njie, Penn State basketball’s second-highest-rated recruit ever, transferred to Notre Dame to follow former Nittany Lions coach Micah Shrewsberry. All of Penn State basketball’s commitments in the 2023 class also followed Shrewsberry to South Bend. But now with Ford’s decision, a Penn State football player will be suiting up for the Fighting Irish next season as well.



Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at basicbluesnation@gmail.com or direct message us on our social media. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlets!

 

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TRANSFER PORTAL

Penn State football takes the lead for new transfer portal target

The Nittany Lions appear to be in great shape to lock down another transfer portal target.

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Penn State football, transfer portal target, Josh Wallace, UMass
© Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK

We are less than 100 days away from the kickoff of the 2023 Penn State football season. In anticipation of the new season, the Nittany Lions are still trying to finalize their impressive roster, ensuring there is depth and talent at every position. Today, Penn State’s coaching staff extended a new offer to a former three-star cornerback from Maryland: transfer portal target Josh Wallace from UMass.

Penn State football trending for new transfer portal target

Today, Penn State football added a new transfer portal target to its recruiting board: former three-star UMass commit, Josh Wallace, a cornerback from Bowie, MD. Since Wallace entered the transfer portal, he has garnered substantial regional attention, most recently catching the eye of the Nittany Lions’ coaching staff.

Josh Wallace, Penn State’s new transfer portal target, is a 6-foot tall, 190-pound defensive back who initially committed to UMass during the 2019 recruiting cycle. Throughout his four years with the Minutemen, Wallace gained valuable experience, which has made him a top Power Five transfer portal target now that he is in the portal.

So far in his career, he has been voted a team captain at UMass and was also a second-team All-Independent honoree. During his most recent season in 2022, Wallace appeared in 12 games, making 41 tackles (3 TFL), one fumble recovery, two interceptions, and eight pass breakups.

Following today’s new offer, Penn State football is now the frontrunner for Wallace’s commitment, according to the ON3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, which gives the Nittany Lions the best odds of landing this transfer portal cornerback. The Nittany Lions currently have a solid defensive backfield, although depth has been a slight concern throughout the spring.

Penn State added a transfer portal cornerback earlier this spring, but it seems that the Lions are still not satisfied with their depth and are looking for more options and experience heading into the summer.



Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at basicbluesnation@gmail.com or direct message us on our social media. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlets!

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TRANSFER PORTAL

Penn State football transfer portal loss announces next destination

A Penn State football transfer portal loss found a new home this week.

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Penn State football, transfer portal, Jaden Dottin, Big Ten, Toledo, MAC
Apr 23, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Jaden Dottin (19) runs with the ball as safety Jaylen Reed (7) attempts a tackle during the Blue White spring game at Beaver Stadium. The defense defeated the offense 17-13. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

Yesterday, Jaden Dottin, a former wide receiver from the class of 2020 and Penn State football transfer portal loss, announced that he has found himself a new home with the University of Toledo in the MAC conference. This decision comes slightly over a month after the Nittany Lions’ spring game, which was held on April 15th at Beaver Stadium.

Penn State football transfer portal loss finds new home with Toledo in the MAC conference

Jaden Dottin initially committed to Penn State football as part of the 2020 recruiting class. However, he did not see much playing time during his three seasons in State College. He appeared in five games, making two catches for a total of 14 yards, with his longest reception being nine yards. In 2022, Dottin made his first career start against the Ohio Bobcats from the MAC conference in Week 2.

As a high school recruit, Jaden Dottin was considered a three-star composite recruit and was ranked as the No. 93 wide receiver in the nation. He was also ranked as the No. 5 recruit in Connecticut. Notably, he did not receive a national ranking.

In an announcement on Thursday, the former Penn State football wide receiver revealed that he has found a new team in the MAC conference through the transfer portal. Dottin shared yesterday that he will be joining the Toldeo Rockets for the upcoming 2023 season. This transfer appears to be a fair exchange, as Penn State recently acquired a top wide receiver from the MAC, Dante Cephas, via the transfer portal as well.



Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at basicbluesnation@gmail.com or direct message us on our social media. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlets!

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