Penn State may be plugging its last remaining hole shortly.
The Nittany Lions will get a visit from North Carolina transfer linebacker Amare Campbell, according to a report by CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz, addressing an important team need. Penn State has competition though, as Campbell recently took a trip to SMU.
Following Penn State’s annual Blue-White Game on Saturday, head coach James Franklin spoke about the need for linebacker depth, hinting at making a transfer addition.
“I think we got enough in the room, but to get through an entire season, if we get some injuries, it could get challenging,” Franklin said. “So we’re going to look at the portal, see if we can find a solution.”
Campbell could be that solution, coming off a standout sophomore campaign in Chapel Hill. Campbell was a 3-star recruit out of Virginia but outperformed expectations through two seasons. Last year, Campbell recorded 76 tackles, 6.5 sacks and a forced fumble, showing proven production as a power conference starter.
The Nittany Lions lost linebackers Ta’Mere Robinson and Beckham Dee to the spring transfer portal, worsening depth at an already questionable position. If Franklin and Co. can reel in Campbell, he would likely earn a role as a starter alongside Tony Rojas in defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ 4-2-5 scheme. Rojas has posted multiple times on X encouraging Campbell to commit to Penn State.
🏠🏠VA -> PA https://t.co/DUgX9Tq895
— Tony Rojas (@Tony_Rojas5) April 27, 2025
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Transfer linebacker sets visit to Penn State