Penn State Faces Uphill Battle After Missing Out on Top Transfer Target
Penn State’s hopes of bolstering their defense with top transfer target Bear Alexander have been dashed, as the defensive lineman committed to Oregon instead. This is a significant blow to James Franklin’s team, which had identified Alexander as a key recruit to shore up their interior defensive line.
The Nittany Lions are now facing an uphill battle, particularly with the graduation of key contributors Dvon J-Thomas and Coziah Izzard. If they fail to secure a top defensive lineman, they may be forced to rely heavily on young players in 2025.
Meanwhile, Penn State is preparing to host SMU in the first round of the College Football Playoff. The Nittany Lions are favored to win, but they’ll need strong performances from key players to slow down SMU’s dynamic offense.
Three players who will be crucial to Penn State’s success are Nolan Rucci, Kobe King, and KeAndre Lambert-Smith. Rucci will need to hold his own against SMU’s talented edge rusher Elijah Roberts, while King will be tasked with spying SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings. Lambert-Smith, meanwhile, will look to exploit SMU’s vulnerable secondary.
With the stakes high, Penn State will need all hands on deck to secure a victory and advance to the next round of the playoff.
