James Franklin Seeks Linebackers from NCAA Transfer Portal

Following Penn State's Blue-White spring game, head coach James Franklin publicly acknowledged concerns about the team's linebacker depth due to the unexpected transfer of Ta'Mere Robinson to USC and the NFL departure of Kobe King. With Tony Rojas recovering from injury and limited experienced backups behind him and veteran captain Dom DeLuca, Franklin emphasized the need to add linebackers through the NCAA transfer portal, despite Penn State's usual preference for internal development over transfers. Franklin called on available linebackers to join 'Linebacker U,' highlighting both the program's storied history at the position and the opportunity for immediate competition. The new defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles, will implement a scheme that may rely more on two linebackers, but injuries could further expose depth issues. While Penn State added other transfers at different positions, linebacker remains a pressing need heading into the 2025 season. Franklin underscored that the portal would be used aggressively to address these gaps before the fall.