The NCAA transfer portal is officially open for Penn State and the rest of college football as coaches and teams look to reshape their rosters ahead of the 2024 season.
The spring transfer portal window opened Tuesday, giving all players a chance to find a new home. The portal is open for a couple of weeks before closing to undergraduates on April 30. Graduate transfers must enter the portal by May 1.
Penn State navigated the winter portal window in January, adding difference-makers like Ohio State wide receiver Julian Fleming and Georgia cornerback A.J. Harris and sustaining minimal losses in terms of departures. This window will be different, though, as James Franklin and his staff will have to lose players in an effort to meet the NCAA’s 85-scholarship limit.
As Penn State looks to shore up its roster, we’ll have you covered at PennLive.
Below is our Penn State transfer tracker, where we’ll update you with commitments, departures, offers and anything else of importance to the Nittany Lions. Make sure to bookmark this page, save this link and revisit it over the next month of portal craziness.
Penn State lineman enters the portal for a second time: April 26
Defensive tackle Davon Townley Jr. entered the transfer portal back in December 2022. In a rare move, he ultimately removed his name and returned to the Nittany Lions. Now, he’s back in the portal.
Townley entered the transfer portal for a second go, and it appears he won’t be returning this time. Townley’s bio was removed from Penn State’s official roster.
Townley was a four-star prospect when he signed with Penn State’s 2021 recruiting class. He appeared in three games last fall and was not expected to crack this year’s rotation.
KeAndre Lambert-Smith makes his decision: April 24
Penn State’s top receiver last season is off to the SEC. Lambert-Smith announced that he will play his final year of eligibility at Auburn. The news comes two weeks after Lambert-Smith left Penn State via the transfer portal.
Lambert-Smith will join the Tigers after spending spring camp with the Nittany Lions. Lambert-Smith was not seen at the media’s final practice window of camp or the Blue-White game, fueling speculation that he would leave Happy Valley.
Lambert-Smith led the Nittany Lions with 53 receptions for 673 yards last season while scoring four touchdowns.
Former Penn State QB enters the portal: April 24
It’s been relatively quiet for the Nittany Lions in the spring transfer portal. No additions, only a couple subtractions. But a name that might ring a bell is looking for a new home.
Former Penn State quarterback Michael Johnson Jr. has entered the portal. Johnson, a four-star prospect in the 2019 recruiting class, never played for the Nittany Lions. He redshirted as a freshman in 2019, entered the portal ahead of the 2020 season and transferred to Florida Atlantic, where he has been ever since.
Johnson has one year of eligibility remaining.
Penn State WR Malick Meiga enters the portal: April 16
Malick Meiga, a reserve veteran receiver, is leaving after four seasons at Penn State. It’s not much of a surprise. Meiga has been buried on the depth chart, catching only nine passes in his career.
Meiga’s speed made him an asset on special teams, enough that the Canadian was named a special teams captain last year. But he wasn’t slated to make an impact at receiver in 2024.
“After a great four years, it’s time for a new chapter,” Meiga wrote on social media. “I want to express my deepest gratitude to the amazing fans, teammates, and coaching staff at Penn State University. Your support, camaraderie, and guidance have meant the world to me.”
Former Penn State QB leaving in-state rival: April 16
Christian Veilleux left Penn State last offseason and landed at Pitt. Now, he’s leaving the Panthers, deciding to enter the portal for a second time. Veilleux, a redshirt junior, will have two years of eligibility to play at his next stop.
Veilleux spent his first two years of college ball at Penn State. He was the Nittany Lions’ third-string quarterback in 2022, behind Sean Clifford and Drew Allar. Veilleux moved to Pitt, where he began the 2023 season as Phil Jurkovec’s backup. He took over the first-team role midseason, went 1-4 as the starter and ceded playing time to Nate Yarnell.
Veilleux threw for 1,179 yards, seven touchdowns and eight interceptions last season as the Panthers went 3-9 on the year.
Pre-portal
KeAndre Lambert-Smith, the team’s leading receiver in 2023, generated headlines a day before the portal opened to undergrads by entering as a grad transfer. Lambert-Smith, after four years at Penn State, decided he wanted to find a new home for his final season.
The news came after Lambert-Smith wasn’t with the team for the final week of spring camp. He wasn’t present at the media practice window and was not at Beaver Stadium for the Blue-White game. His locker was cleared out before news of his exit reached the masses.
Lambert-Smith leaves a hole in wide receiver coach Marques Hagans’ room. He was the most experienced returning receiver in the Big Ten with 38 starts to his name. He also led the Nittany Lions with 53 receptions and 674 receiving yards last year.