Former top Penn State target announces transfer portal entry
Kaden Prather, a former On3 Consensus four-star receiver in the Class of 2021 and a top Penn State recruiting target, has announced his intent to transfer from West Virginia. Revealing his choice via Twitter, Prather said his career with the Mountaineers was coming to a close.
“I would like to thank the great state of West Virginia and all Mountaineer fans for their hospitality over the years,” he wrote. “You are the most loyal fans a player could ever hope for and I have enjoyed playing for you.
“I would like to thank coach Brown and the other coaches and strength staff for the great opportunity presented to me. I will remember all the friendships made. With that being said, I will be doing what’s best for me and entering the transfer portal. Please respect my decision.”
Still a Penn State target?
As a recruit out of Germantown, Md., Northwest High School, Prather was one of the Nittany Lions’ top targets. That is expected to again be the case once he officially submits his name into the transfer portal.
Checking in at No. 221 overall in the Class of 2021, Prather was the 36th-ranked receiver in the class and the ninth-rated prospect out of Maryland. Yet, when it came decision time in June 2020, Prather landed on the Mountaineers over top contenders Maryland, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Penn State, each of whom earned a spot in his top five.
Prather is listed at 211 pounds, 6-foot-4 according to the official West V Virginia roster.
Prather’s West Virginia production
As a true freshman with the Mountaineers in 2021, Prather notched 12 receptions for 175 yards, appearing in nine games. But in his follow-up this past season, Prather was a much bigger part of the West Virginia offense.
In 11 games played, Prather was a fixture on the field for the Mountaineers in the slot, a position vacated by the announced departure of Parker Washington from Penn State ahead of the 2023 season. He finished with 52 receptions for 501 yards and three scores.
Next steps
Penn State has been active in its pursuit of receivers in the transfer portal this offseason. To date, that has materialized in seven offers to the position thus far.
