James Franklin Makes Urgent Push for Top Linebacker in Penn State's Recruiting Drive

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STATE COLLEGE | After the conclusion of Penn State's Blue-White Game, James Franklin publicly appealed to linebackers who are in the transfer portal. The Nittany Lions have shown interest.

After the Nittany Lions’ concluding spring practice, Franklin stated, ‘We might not be a large linebackers unit, yet we must tackle certain concerns. If any linebacker wishes to join our squad and contribute to the ‘LBU,’ which boasts the richest legacy among collegiate football’s linebacker programs, they can seize this chance to enter the lineup and vie for their spot. We’ll certainly consider such opportunities.’

RELATED: Insights gained from the Penn State Blue-White Game

Entering the 2025 season, Penn State finds itself in an unusual situation with its linebackers. Although the team plans to use a base 4-2-5 scheme under new coordinator Jim Knowles, which may not center around the linebacker position, they continue to face depth issues there. This particular unit saw some of the least noticed adjustments during the recent off-season.

Initially, Penn State saw their starting middle linebacker Kobe King depart for the NFL Draft. Despite having another year of college eligibility left, King chose to leave and was drafted into the sixth round by the Minnesota Vikings. He could have remained with the team as a key defensive leader but decided otherwise.

Next, the Nittany Lions found themselves unexpectedly short-handed, as Franklin put it when he mentioned they had lost a player they hadn’t expected to lose. This player was redshirt freshman linebacker Ta'Mere Robinson, who joined the transfer portal in the spring. He moved on to USC, which meant the team had one less player than anticipated; according to Franklin, Robinson was showing promising progress during the spring practices.

This spring, Penn State lacked the services of their starting linebacker Tony Rojas, who was still recuperating from an off-season medical procedure. Additionally, DaKaari Nelson did not take part in the Blue-White Game. Redshirt junior Keon Wylie, meanwhile, is making his return after being injured in 2024.

This positioned Dom DeLuca, a fifth-year senior, and Anthony Speca, a redshirt freshman, as the leading linebackers for the starting defensive unit on Saturday. LaVar Arrington II, a true freshman who joined in January, showed promise during his initial appearance; however, the Nittany Lions might still seek out an additional standout performer at this spot.

I believe we’re in solid condition, though there are certain worries," Franklin stated. "I feel we have sufficient depth right now. However, managing a whole season might become difficult if we face some injuries. Therefore, we will explore the transfer market to seek out a potential resolution.

Frequently, we prefer someone who has ties to us and whom we know since we have such a great team dynamic. It’s crucial for me to ensure that only the appropriate individuals join our group. We guard this space closely.

On Saturday, Penn State added a transfer player when they acquired ex-Syracuse wide receiver Trevor Pennington. committed to the program Pena played for Syracuse over five seasons and topped the ACC in total catches during his final year. Franklin refrained from commenting on Pena formally but echoed the emphasis on competition.

“I’d rather not dwell on past matters; instead, let’s focus on the current players on our roster for now,” Franklin stated. “However, our aim is to foster maximum competition at each position as far as possible. This reflects the essence of collegiate football at this tier. As mentors, we welcome such competitiveness, and so do the athletes. In my view, enhancing rivalry within that space will better prepare us, which is precisely what we require.”

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The article was initially posted on www.si.com/college/pennstate as James Franklin at Penn State Appeals to a Linebacker Via Transfer Portal .