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Where will each Penn State transfer suit up in 2025, and how many are there across college football?

Published

4 months ago

August 28, 2025

Where will each Penn State transfer suit up in 2025, and how many are there across college football?

Former Penn State players will be on college football depth charts across the country this fall. One ex-Nittany Lion has already started his new season elsewhere. The rest who left via the transfer portal hit the field this week. How many former members of head coach James Franklin’s program are still in the game, and where are those who are playing in 2025? We have a full breakdown below.

Former Penn State players suiting up elsewhere on offense

WR Cristian Driver, Minnesota: Driver finished his first regular season in Minneapolis with seven catches for 49 yards and one touchdown. He also carried twice for nine yards. He currently projects to start as a backup again this fall.

RB London Montgomery, East Carolina: Montgomery netted 64 carries over 10 regular season games for 343 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught five passes for 29 yards. He is a fourth-team Phil Steele preseason All-AAC pick and could very well start for the Pirates this fall. The team’s first depth chart has him on the top line with an OR designation.

WR Malik McClain, Arizona State: McClain played just 65 snaps for the Sun Devils in 2024 before the CFP. He turned them into one catch for 43 yards in the Big 12 title game. In 2025, he is reportedly in a tight battle to win a starting job. He projects to have a sizable role in the ASU offense either way.

WR Malick Meiga, Coastal Carolina: Meiga caught just seven passes for 117 yards last year. He projects to have a big speical teams role and a minimal one on offense again in 2025.

MORE: Penn State among CFB’s best with 10 Senior Bowl Top 300 picks

QB Michael Johnson Jr., Akron: Johnson Jr., played in just one game in 2024, and it was back in September. Over 12 snaps against Howard, he netted 31 yards on a 2 of 3 day and lost eight yards on four rushing attempts. He transferred to Akron this offseason. He does not project to be the starter but could be the Zips’ top backup in 2025.

QB Christian Veilleux, Georgia State: Veilleux completed 166 of 291 passes (57 percent) for 2,047 yards in 2024. His touchdown-to-interception ratio is 13 to 10. He also rushed 28 times for 74 yards and a score. GSU added transfers to compete with Veilleux in 2025. A winner is not yet in as of the time of this story’s publication.

RB Caziah Holmes, Florida State: Holmes earned just 47 snaps over eight games on offense in 2024. Holmes was on the Seminoles’ special teams units. He carried 15 times for 84 yards and three touchdowns last year. He also had one kickoff return for 23 yards. Holmes figures to be down the depth chart again in 2025.

QB Ta’quan Roberson, Buffalo: Roberson appeared in four games last yar at Kansas State. He completed 3 of 7 passes for 18 yards. He also rushed one time for seven yards. The former Penn State passer transferred to Buffalo this offseason. The now seventh-year college player projects to be the starter entering the season, though info out of camp is limited.

OL Ibrahim Traore, Toledo: Traore was part of the Rockets’ field goal kick team in 2024. He recorded 50 snaps on it. On offense, he is a backup. He had just nine snaps in one regular season contest. He projects as a special teams starter and backup on offense again in 2025.

WR Carmelo Taylor, Lackawanna College: While technically not a transfer, Taylor is still suiting up for the Falcons at the junior college level. Over six games, he caught 11 passes for 359 yards and six touchdowns in 2024. He is back with the team in 2025.

Jerry Cross, TE, Memphis: A recent depth chart update from BWI sister site Tiger Sports Report did not cover the tight end position. Cross joined the Tigers for spring ball, which couldn’t have hurt his case to earn more playing time than he did at Penn State. He projects to share time with JUCO addition Bryan Anderson, per Phil Steele’s projected depth chart.

Omari Evans, WR,Washington: Evans missed time during spring ball due to a lower-body injury. Speaking with reporters at Big Ten Media Days, Huskies coach Jedd Fischsaid the former Nittany Lion intrigued them in the portal because of the speed he could inject into the offense. Earlier this week, On Montlake with Christian Caple put Evans in a rotational role to start.

Tyler Johnson, WR,East Carolina: Johnson is not mentioned in any of the school website’s three preseason camp updates. But, he was on campus for spring ball and is in a room that’s strong at the top but has tons of opportunity from there based on returning production. The trail of info is pretty cold at that point though, otherwise.

Keyvone Lee, RB, UNLV: Lee carried five times for five yards in the Runnin’ Rebels’ 38-31 win over Idaho State last Saturday. He also lost a yard on one reception and seems to be pretty far down the depth chart.

Chase Meyer, K, Cal: According to California Golden Bears on SI reporter Jeff Faraudo, Meyer will handle short field goals and extra points while a different kicker will handle kickoffs and long field goals. Meyer was 17 of 20 on field goals two years ago at Tulsa but never attempted a kick during his one season in State College.

JB Nelson, OL, Kansas State: The Wildcats started Nelson at right guard in his first career game with the team. He ended up playign 37 of the team’s 59 snaps on offense in addition to three snaps on special teams.

Beau Pribula, QB, Missouri: The former Penn State passer could not win the Tigers’ starting job outright during preseason camp. He and Sam Horn, a returner who missed all of the 2024 season due to injury, will both play in the team’s opener with Central Arkansas as the competition between them rages into the regular season.

“I informed the team this afternoon that both quarterbacks will play in the first game,” Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz said in a team statement. “I want to see them in a game-day situation to make a final determination.”

Harrison Wallace III, WR, Ole Miss: Per Billy Embody at BWI sister site Rebel Grove, the SEC team feels good about Wallace III making an early impact this fall. The buzz around the former Nittany Lion has been strong this spring — from the Rebel Grove guys and others in the media space down there — to make one thing that the former four-star recruit will likely earn a starting role to start the year.

Former Nittany Lions lining up elsewhere on defense

DL Davon Townley, Missouri State: Townley played in only four games in 2024. He made 13 tackles (2.5 for loss) and had 1.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries. He’s back with the same team in 2025.

DL Jordan van den Berg, Georgia Tech: In 2024, van den Berg was part of the Yellow Jackets’ field goal block and field goal teams. On defense, he took the team’s third-most defensive tackle snaps with 348. He turned those into 20 tackles, a sack, and two fumble recoveries. In 2025, he is in line to be a heavily used starter again.

P Alex Bacchetta, Rice: Bacchetta was the team’s starting punter in 2024. He sent 50 punts for an average of 41.18 yards per boot. He also boomed 10 punts for 50-plus yards. And, he put the Owls’ opponent inside of its own 20-yard line 11 times. There’s no reason to think that he won’t be the starter in 2025.

DL Rodney McGraw, Western Michigan: McGraw appeared in all 12 games this season, finishing with 195 snaps on defense in 2024. He posted 21 tackles and a sack on the season. Now a senior, Phil Steele projects him as a backup again in 2025.

DL Ken Talley, Arkansas: Talley made six snaps and had 1.5 sacks over 152 snaps and 10 games for Michigan State in 2024. He moved onto Arkansas this offseason. On3 sister site HawgBeat projects that he will start 2025 as a backup for the Razorbacks.

DT Cole Brevard, Texas: The former Penn State defensive tackle hit the portal this offseason to go to Texas. “You go into it for positions of need from a depth perspective, and I think Cole provides that,” Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian said in December. However, he could start for UT in Week 1 at Ohio State. Brevard was a backup defensive tackle for Purdue last uyear. He owned 392 snaps over 11 games this season. His season stat line featured 19 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 2024.

DL Jamari Buddin, Grand Valley State: Buddin recorded nine tackles (two for loss) over nine games for 11-2 Grand Valley State. He is back with the team in 2025, per its roster.

Mehki Flowers, S, Akron: Flowers is actually listed as a defensive back on the Zips’ roster, which makes one wonder if he isn’t getting reps at both corner and safety this summer. He projects to start the year in the backup role, though it would be silly not to note how scarce the info is right now on Joe Moorhead’s team.

Cam Miller, CB, Rutgers: Miller had some productive moments for the Lions before electing to leave the team’s loaded cornerbacks room for Piscataway. Two former Penn State analysts, Robb Smith and Vic Hall, are now on the Scarlet Knights’ staff as the co-DC and safeties coach, respectively. They know Miller’s game. A pre-camp projected depth chart from On3 sister The Knight Report put Miller in a starting role. We have no reason to think he’s lost it during camp.

Tyrece Mills , S, UCONN: Phil Steele’s preseason depth chart for the Huskies projects Mills to start at one safety spot. Considering his past college experience, it’s a fair assumption to make. But, there’s little out there confirming it before kickoff.

Jon Mitchell, CB, Georgia Tech: BWI sister site Jackets Online reports that Mitchell has flashed some during his first camp with the Yellow Jackets. But, he still projects to open the year in a backup role at his new school a week or so before the opening.

Joseph Mupoyi, DL, North Carolina: A player with a ton of potential and strong traits who always had to refine the football side of things, Mupoyi left after spring ball to become a Tar Heel. Work remains to round out his game, and so there’s no indication at the moment that he’ll contribute in Chapel Hill this year.

Ta’Mere Robinson, LB, USC: Robinson has reportedly flashed some in camp but continues to be in a scrap for playing time. USC coach Lincoln Riley told reporters that two Trojans have separated themselves at linebacker — neither of which was the former Penn State defender — putting Robinson in the next tier of playing, trying to climb the depth chart.

Smith Vilbert, DE, North Carolina: Vilbert was originally returning to Penn State for a seventh season. Then, he switched gears and left for Chapel Hill. He’s one of many new faces in a defensive line room that is still establishing a pecking order. That makes what his role will be for the opener unclear at this point in time.

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Miami WR Malachi Toney Announces Career News Amid College Football Season

Published

7 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The No. 10 seed Miami Hurricanes defeated the No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies 10-3 in the first round of the College Football Playoff. It was a defensive battle, ultimately decided by a late fourth-quarter score and red-zone interception by Miami.

With the score tied at 3 and 1 minute, 44 seconds left in the game, Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney scored on an 11-yard touchdown pass thrown by quarterback Carson Beck.

Up next for the Hurricanes is a Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic matchup against the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes. It’s an uphill battle, as ESPN’s matchup predictor gives the Hurricanes a 29.5% chance of winning.

Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney (10).© Robert Myers-Imagn Images

Before his heroic performance, though, the wide receiver revealed an exciting Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) update. In a joint Instagram post, Toney revealed a new NIL partnership with Hellstar, a popular clothing brand that has a sports training component.

“We are so proud to announce our first Hellstar Sports College Athlete NIL signing – Malachi Toney🌟.,” the post caption read. “We had the privilege to coach @malitoney10 while he was apart of our high school 7 on 7 program, so now seeing him shine on the collegiate level we couldn’t be more proud.”

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What Colorado’s Athletic Department Valuation Says About Buffaloes’ Growth

Published

8 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

In the growing landscape of college athletics, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals play a vital role in sports. Some programs are set up better than others based on a program’s valuation. Programs with higher valuations can help some of the top-performing teams stay successful.

CNBC released its valuation rankings for the country’s athletic departments, showing their growth from the 2024 fiscal year. The Colorado Buffaloes are ranked No. 47 in the nation, a rise from No. 55 in 2024.

Colorado Buffaloes valuation NIL transfer portal Deion Sanders Coach Prime Big 12 College Football Basketball Folsom Field — Nov 25, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion ‘Coach Prime’ Sanders on the field against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images | Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images

Breaking Down Colorado Buffaloes’ Valuation Ranking

Colorado’s 2025 valuation is $574 million, with a year-over-year value change of 22 percent. The program’s 2024 revenue is set at $147 million, with a 16 percent year-over-year revenue change.

A program’s valuation determines its monetary worth, and it is important to look at the growth, which shows that Colorado is trending in the right direction. It is also important to note that the valuation rankings are based on all of the athletics, not just the football program.

Where Colorado Ranks In The Big 12

When focusing on the Big 12 conference, several of the programs are in the same vicinity with their valuation ranking.

No. 39 Kansas: $620M
No. 41 Oklahoma State: $600M
No. 42 Baylor: $585M
No. 46 Iowa State: $575M
No. 47 Colorado: $574M
No. 49 Texas Tech: $570M
No. 50 TCU: $568M
No. 55 Arizona: $529M
No. 57 BYU: $500M
No. 58 West Virginia: $481M
No. 60 Utah: $451M
No. 62 Kansas State: $435M
No. 63 Arizona State: $430M
No. 68 Cincinnati: $280M
No. 70 UCF: $262M
No. 73 Houston: $222M

MORE: Colorado Gets Hit With Biggest Transfer Portal Loss Yet

MORE: Michael Irvin Gets Real On Blame Surrounding Shedeur Sanders

MORE: Deion Sanders Faces Recruiting Problem After Omarion Miller Transfer News

While from the top valuation of Kansas to the bottom, which is Houston is a significant difference in the Big 12, the conference teams are still in a similar vicinity overall. With it having to do with all athletics, the programs that have consistently strong teams, such as Kansas’ basketball team, make sense to have a higher valuation.

Looking at the Big 12 as a whole shows that the Colorado Buffaloes are in the top five for their valuation and trending upward.

Calling Back To Deion Sanders’ Comments On Fairness

While valuation is not the same as revenue, seeing the difference in the conferences does call back to Colorado coach Deion Sanders’ comments on the fairness between programs. The schools in the top five for their valuation are either in the Big Ten or the SEC, and all are in the billions.

“You talk about equality,” Sanders said during the Big 12 media day. “All you have to do is look at the playoffs and see what those teams spent, and you understand darn near why they’re in the playoffs. It’s kind of hard to compete with somebody who’s giving $25, $30 million to a darn freshman class.”

Although the valuation is on the programs’ overall athletics, Sanders has been outspoken about money when it comes to building the football program. With the Buffaloes facing a mass exodus through the transfer portal, Sanders has highlighted that several players are leaving because of money.

The positive side is that the Buffaloes’ valuation is growing with a 22 percent increase. This shows that the school’s athletics overall are being valued higher, and will help lead to more money poured into the program. With more money, the Buffaloes can put more of an emphasis on NIL as they look to build their roster and compete in the Big 12.

Insider Reveals Biggest Reason Behind Colorado’s Transfer Portal Mass Exodus

Published

9 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

From a player retention standpoint, the first few weeks of the offseason haven’t been kind to the Colorado Buffaloes.

Several key Buffs have announced their intentions to enter the college football transfer portal when it opens next month, including wide receiver Omarion Miller, safety Tawfiq Byard and freshman defensive end Alexander McPherson. While every situation is unique, one Colorado insider believes money has been a common denominator among players’ reasons for leaving Boulder.

Insider Reasons Colorado Transfer Portal Exodus Buffaloes NIL Deion Sanders Alexander McPherson Tawfiq Byard Omarion Miller — Oct 25, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Omarion Miller (4) is tackled by Utah Utes defensive back JC Hart (14) during the second half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray-Imagn Images

“The super majority of those people, I’m talking 95 percent, are going to be leaving for a bigger bag,” Thee Pregame Show’s Uncle Neely said on his YouTube channel. “This ain’t transferring in 1990. This ain’t transferring in the year 2000. This is 2025. This is business now. This isn’t, ‘Oh, I don’t like the coach. Oh, I don’t want to be treated the way they treat me.’

“This doesn’t mean something is wrong. These are business decisions now. But what we like to do is run with the narrative that woe is me, something must be wrong, something must be going on. How are all these people leaving?”

The NIL (name, image and likeness) era has rocked college football, and the depressing truth is that schools with more money will ultimately land the best players. In the Big 12, no school better exemplifies that trend than new conference champion Texas Tech.

Who’s Leaving Colorado?

As of Sunday, 16 Colorado players will enter the transfer portal next month. That group includes 12 defensive players, six members of the Buffs’ 2025 high school signing class and a few other Buffs who spent only one season in Boulder.

Below is an updated list of Colorado players who plan on entering the transfer portal:

Safety TJ Branch
Defensive lineman Jehiem Oatis
Cornerback Noah King
Cornerback Teon Parks
Linebacker Mantrez Walker
Safety Terrance Love
Safety Tawfiq Byard
Wide receiver Omarion Miller
Defensive tackle Brandon Davis-Swain
Offensive lineman Carde Smith
Defensive end Alexander McPherson
Offensive lineman Tyler Brown
Defensive tackle Gavriel Lightfoot
Defensive tackle Christian Hudson
Defensive tackle Tawfiq Thomas
Wide receiver Dre’lon Miller

Uncle Neely shared his take that Colorado’s losses should be replaceable via the transfer portal.

“Have you ever stopped to say, what am I actually losing by those people leaving?” Uncle Neely said. “Have you ever looked at the numbers production-wise of who has announced that they’re getting up out of here and what you’re actually losing by them leaving?… Is it replaceable via the portal? And in this business in college football, is it replaceable cheaper? I would wager to say the answer is yes in all regards.”

MORE: Colorado Gets Hit With Biggest Transfer Portal Loss Yet

MORE: Michael Irvin Gets Real On Blame Surrounding Shedeur Sanders

MORE: Deion Sanders Faces Recruiting Problem After Omarion Miller Transfer News

The college football transfer portal will open on Jan. 2 and close Jan. 16. Colorado coach Deion Sanders and his staff can begin adding players from the portal at the start of that period.

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Report: LSU finalizes deal to hire Ole Miss’ Kevin Smith, puts him among highest paid RBs coaches

Published

10 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Lane Kiffin is bringing another Ole Miss assistant with him to LSU. According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, the Tigers have finalized a deal to hire Rebels running backs coach Kevin Smith for the same role.

Smith is reported to have a salary of close to $1 million, which would make him one of the highest-paid running backs coaches in the country. He is the sixth Ole Miss assistant to follow Kiffin to Baton Rouge.

The other coaches joining Kiffin at LSU are offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., tight ends coach Joe Cox, receivers coach Joe McDonald, inside receivers coach Sawyer Jordan and quarterbacks coach Dane Stevens. So far no defensive assistants from the Rebels have made the jump to Baton Rouge.

Smith worked with Kiffin as a running backs coach at Florida Atlantic form 2017-19 and joined his very first staff at Ole Miss in 2020. He stayed for the next two seasons in Oxford before leaving to take the running backs coach position at Miami in 2022.

Smith’s stint with the Hurricanes was a short-lived one as he returned to Ole Miss in 2023 and stayed through this season. Now he’ll look to continue the success he has enjoyed with Kiffin while building up the running backs room at LSU.

Smith helped to develop running backs such as Quinshon Judkins and Kewan Lacy during his time in Oxford. This past season, Ole Miss ranked fifth in the SEC with 185.6 rushing yards per game as Lacy led the conference with 21 rushing touchdowns and ranked second with 1,366 yards.

Ole Miss had its best season in program history this year to reach the College Football Playoff for the first time. However, Kiffin was not granted permission from the school to finish out the season with the Rebels after he accepted the LSU job.

Other assistants, including offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., were allowed to complete the playoff run with Ole Miss. The Rebels defeated Tulane in the first round and will face No. 3 Georgia, which they lost to earlier this season, in the quarterfinals.

As of right now, it looks like most of the Ole Miss offensive staff will follow Kiffin to Baton Rouge. The defensive side keep defensive coordinator Blake Baker, who has been on staff at LSU since 2024.

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Former 4-star QB announces plans to enter college football transfer portal

Published

13 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The quarterback market is expected to be extremely competitive this offseason.

A ton of experienced signal-callers have announced their decisions to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, including Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt, North Texas’ Drew Mestemaker, Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby, and TCU’s Josh Hoover, among countless others.

The right move can benefit young quarterbacks, as players such as USC’s Jayden Maiava and Oregon’s Dante Moore benefited from transferring early in their careers.

An offseason coaching change has led one former blue-chip recruit to explore his options in the portal.

Former Four-Star Quarterback Expected To Enter Portal

On Sunday, Memphis true freshman quarterback Antwann “AJ” Hill announced his plans to leave the program after one season, per On3.

Hill appeared in two games in 2025, earning a redshirt. His most extensive action came in a 31-24 loss to UAB on October 18. Hill entered the contest after starting quarterback Brendon Lewis went down with an injury. In roughly two quarters of action, he completed 13/25 passes for 176 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception.

On the season, Hill connected on 19/32 passes for 223 yards with 1 touchdown to 1 interception.

Hill is transferring after Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield was hired away by Arkansas. The Razorbacks don’t have a ton of depth at quarterback. Redshirt freshman KJ Jackson holds the most experience on the roster with five appearances and one start last season.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if Arkansas is involved in Hill’s transfer recruitment.

Hill was one of the highest-ranked prospects in program history to sign with Memphis. He was regarded as the No. 15 QB and a top-200 recruit in the 2025 class. Hill chose the Tigers over Florida following official visits to both schools.

During his prep career at Houston County High School, Hill compiled over 11,000 passing yards and led his team to at least one playoff victory in all three seasons as a starter.

Overall, Hill completed 800-of-1239 passes for 11,020 yards with 123 touchdowns to 20 interceptions. He added six more scores on the ground.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound quarterback is expected to have four seasons of eligibility remaining.

Former Carolina wide receiver set for WWE main roster debut

Published

14 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Former South Carolina wide receiver Matrick Belton is reportedly going to get a real shot on the main roster in the WWE. Belton, who goes by Trick Williams in the top professional wrestling and sports entertainment company, joined WWE in 2021 in the NXT brand. Now, he’s going to move up to either the Raw or Smackdown roster.

NXT is basically the developmental arm of WWE while Raw and Smackdown – shows on Mondays and Fridays, respectively – are considered the main roster. According to this report from PWInsider.com, Belton will make an appearance on the upcoming Smackdown, which was pre-taped.

Whether Belton moves to Raw or Smackdown is to be determined. Here’s the reporting from PWInsider:

Former WWE NXT and TNA Champion Trick Williams will debut on Smackdown on 12/26 with the storyline being he’s a free agent looking to sign with the brand. We are told Williams has not been officially listed internally on a brand yet, so he could appear on Raw in the upcoming weeks as well, but he’ll be moving to the main roster in 2026.

Belton is a two-time NXT champion and also held the TNA World Championship for 140 days earlier this year. Belton, a former SEC football player who was in the Philadelphia Eagles’ minicamp in 2018, recently got engaged to another former SEC athlete – women’s basketball player Anriel Howard, who played for three years at Texas A&M and her final year at Mississippi State.

Belton, a Columbia native who played for Keenan High School, joined the program in 2014 after spending his first two years out of high school at Hampton University. After sitting out due to NCAA transfer rules, Belton played in every game for South Carolina in 2015 and made five starts. He caught 11 passes for 121 yards his first season on the field.

As a senior in 2016, he played primarily on special teams, appearing in nine games. He played in 21 games over the course of his two-year career with the Gamecocks and made five starts.

Belton also spent time in training camp with Philadelphia Eagles. However, he decided to take a chance on pro wrestling and started training at the Combat Zone Wrestling Academy in New Jersey.

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