How did each Penn State football transfer do elsewhere in 2024?

Former Penn State football players who left the Nittany Lions via the transfer portal suited up elsewhere throughout 2024. Some are still alive in the postseason. Others’ latest college season have come to a close. Here’s how the list of one-time members of James Franklin’s program performed elsewhere this fall.

Former Penn State players suiting up elsewhere on offense

WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Auburn: No receiver played more snaps for the Tigers this year then ‘KLS’ did. He finished with 623, per Pro Football Focus. And, he turned those into 50 receptions for 981 yards and eight touchdowns. Auburn is not bowl game bound. Lambert-Smith was a second-team All-SEC selection.

WR Cristian Driver, Minnesota: Driver finished his first season in Minneapolis with seven catches for 49 yards and one touchdown. He also carried twice for nine yards. The Golden Gophers play in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Jan. 3 opposite Duke.

RB London Montgomery, East Carolina: Montgomery netted 64 carries over 10 games for 343 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught five passes for 29 yards. The Pirates play N.C. State in the Go Bowling Military Bowl on Dec. 28.

WR Malik McClain, Arizona State: McClain played just 65 snaps for the Sun Devils this season. He turned them into one catch for 43 yards in the Big 12 title game. ASU is the No. 4 seed in the College Football Playoff and has a bye into a quarterfinal matchup with a to-be-determined opponent in the Peach Bowl.

WR Malick Meiga, Coastal Carolina: Meiga has been on the field for 51 snaps on offense over the first two weeks. That is fourth most among receivers and he is in a backup role. So far, he has three receptions for 79 yards.

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RB Devyn Ford, Notre Dame: Ford played just 62 snaps on offense but 97 on special teams in 2024. He had 13 carries for 55 yards and two receptions for six yards. The Fighting Irish are the No. 7 seed in the College Football Playoff in face No. 10 Indiana in a home first round matchup.

OL Jimmy Christ, Virginia: Christ played just 74 snaps on offense this season.

QB Michael Johnson Jr., Syracuse: Johnson Jr., played in just one game this season, and it was back in September. Over 12 snaps against Howard, he netted 31 yards on a 2 of 3 day and lost eight yards on four rushing attempts.

RB Keyvone Lee, Mississippi State: Lee netted 90 snaps over four games in Starkville. Lee was hurt at the end of September and never returned to action. He finished with 29 carries for 140 yards and a touchdown. He is now back in the transfer portal.

QB Christian Veilleux, Georgia State: Veilleux completed 166 of 291 passes (57 percent) for 2,047 yards. His touchdown-to-interception ratio is 13 to 10. He also rushed 28 times for 74 yards and a score. The Panthers are not playing in a bowl game.

RB Caziah Holmes, Florida State: Holmes earned just 47 snaps over eight games on offense. Holmes also is on the Seminoles’ special teams units. He carries 15 times for 84 yards and three touchdowns in 2024. He also had one kickoff return for 23 yards.

QB Ta’quan Roberson, Kansas State: Roberson appeared in four games. He completed 3 of 7 passes for 18 yards. He also rushed one time for seven yards.

QB Micah Bowens, Bethune-Cookman: Bowens completed just 3 of 11 passes for 1 yard. He also threw an interception.

OL Ibrahim Traore, Toledo: Traore is part of the Rockets’ field goal kick team. He recorded 50 snaps on it. On offense, he is a backup. He had just nine snaps in one contest. Toledo meets Pittsburgh in the GameAbove Sports Bowl on Dec. 26.

WR Carmelo Taylor, Lackawanna College: While technically not a transfer, Taylor is suiting up for the Falcons at the junior college level. Over six games, he caught 11 passes for 359 yards and six touchdowns.

WR Dante Cephas, Kansas State: Cephas is the Wildcats’ No. 4 receiver. He caught 13 passes for 142 yards. KSU meets Rutgers in the Rate Bowl on Dec. 26.

Former Nittany Lions lining up elsewhere on defense

S King Mack, Alabama: Mack never broke into the Crimson Tides’ rotation on defense, finishing with just 96 snaps. However, he played on numerous special teams units. He had 12 tackles on the season. Alabama plays Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31.

DL Davon Townley, Missouri State: Townley played in only four games this season. He made 13 tackles (2.5 for loss) and had 1.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries.

DL Jordan van den Berg, Georgia Tech: van den Berg is part of the Yellow Jackets’ field goal block and field goal teams. On defense, he took the team’s third-most defensive tackle snaps with 348. He turned those into 20 tackles, a sack, and two fumble recoveries. The Yellow Jackets face Vanderbilt in the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 27.

P Alex Bacchetta, Rice: Bacchetta is the team’s starting punter. He sent 50 punts for an average of 41.18 yards per boot. He also boomed 10 punts for 50-plus yards. And, he put the Owls’ opponent inside of its own 20 yard line 11 times.

DT Fatorma Mulbah, West Virginia: Mulbah’s 464 is the most among Mountaineer defensive tackles in 2024. He had 45 tackles and a sack over 10 games. WVU plays Memphis in the Frisco Bowl on Dec. 17.

DL Rodney McGraw, Western Michigan: McGraw appeared in all 12 games this season, finishing with 195 snaps on defense. He posted 21 tackles and a sack on the season. WMU will play South Alabama in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl on Dec. 14.

DL Ken Talley, Michigan State: Talley is back in the transfer portal. He made six snaps and had 1.5 sacks over 152 snaps and 10 games for the Spartans.

DT Cole Brevard, Purdue: Brevard is a backup defensive tackle for the Boilermakers. He owns 392 snaps over 11 games this season. His season stat line features 19 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

DL Jamari Buddin, Grand Valley State: Buddin recorded nine tackles (two for loss) over nine games for 11-2 Grand Valley State.

S Tyler Rudolph, UMASS: Rudolph is a starting safety for the Minutemen. He recorded 519 snaps this season. It is the fourth most on the defense. He made 61 tackles and also had three pass breakups.

LB Lance Dixon, Toledo: Dixon had 375 defensive snaps, third most among the MAC team’s linebackers. He is also part of the Rockets’ special teams. In 2024, he made 42 tackles and recorded two sacks. He also broke up four passes and had two forced fumbles.