Franklin welcomes six through transfer portal
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — James Franklin does not like aspects of the present era of college football — specifically, the system that allows players to transfer multiple times without guardrails and the coaches who have opted for the portal over the traditional high school route.
But, Franklin said on Tuesday, “we have to embrace the current model that we’re in” until the system improves. And embrace he has this offseason, opening the Lasch Building doors to six transfers — four of which are expected but not guaranteed to have an opportunity to contribute immediately.
“Whether it’s high school kids or whether it’s transfer portal, as well, we don’t make promises,” Franklin said. “So guys are going to have to come in here and compete and earn jobs.”
For some transfers, the competition to earn Franklin’s trust began long before winter workouts, which started last week.
Franklin called ex-Georgia cornerback A. J. Harris shortly after the former fivestar recruit entered the transfer portal in December. After exchanging hellos, Franklin and Harris set up another call.
They left that second conversation sold on each other.
“We got on the phone the second time, and he had done his homework,” Franklin said. “Like, he knew our roster. He knew the coaches. He had watched our film, studied our film. He looked at the data and where we rank how we play defense.”
It’s likely that Franklin also appreciated the fact that Harris didn’t just play at the SEC level for a season; he burned his freshman redshirt as a member of one of the nation’s top secondaries. Harris entered the portal as a prized prospect, and it’s not difficult to see why. He’ll compete alongside former Florida cornerback Jalen Kimber, a fellow transfer and four-year college veteran, in a unit that lost three starters to the NFL draft.
“A.J. is a little bit different than Kimber, right? Kimber has played a ton already,” Franklin said. “We recruited A.J. out of high school. That helped. He was also highly, highly recruited, high profile.”
The reunions at Penn State between Franklin and past high school recruiting targets don’t end at Harris.
Ex-Ohio State wide receiver Julian Fleming, who was once Pennsylvania’s topranked prospect, is officially on board. His emergence comes four years after shunning the Nittany Lions for the rival Buckeyes.
“For a while there, we felt like he was coming. And then we ended up losing him, and then now, he’s back with us,” Franklin said. “His ability to play in this league, I think, is helpful. He kind of understands what this league is all about. He also has an understanding about the playoffs, as well. And he’s an older guy, which I also think helps in that room.”
Franklin also has great expectations for offensive lineman Nolan Rucci, formerly of Wisconsin. Rucci was the top in-state prospect in 2021 and chose the Badgers despite the Nittany Lions being the alma mater of both of his parents.
At 6-foot-8 and about 305 pounds, Rucci will compete for a starting spot on a line that will be without three starters from 2023.
“I think we knew very well that he was capable, but there wasn’t a whole lot of evidence of it at Wisconsin,” Franklin said. “They stayed very healthy and didn’t rotate players the way we have, so him playing in that bowl game ... was really important to both sides.”
New special teams coach
Penn State has officially cleaned house of its coordinator corps.
Defensive coordinator Tom Allen and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki have already begun the process of acclimating themselves with the program. On Tuesday, it was Justin Lustig’s opportunity to introduce himself as the special teams leader.
Lustig joins the Nittany Lions after three seasons at Vanderbilt, where he was a Broyles Award nominee in 2022. He worked at Syracuse for four years prior to his job with the Commodores.
“You always want, as a special teams coach, to work for a head coach who values the importance of special teams,” Lustig said. “And I can tell you, coach and I were texting back and forth the other night during the Super Bowl. It’s pretty obvious the importance of special teams and how that can play a major role in winning and losing football.”