Penn State impressed by early returns from transfer portal add Mitchell Tinsley
Penn State newcomer Mitchell Tinsley has yet to put on pads since arriving in State College back in January.
The former Western Kentucky star receiver has already impressed many while starting winter workouts and getting to know his teammates and coaches, however.
Lions head coach James Franklin recounted a story on Wednesday that speaks to the kind of person Tinsley is. From the sounds of it, Penn State landed not only a tremendous talent on the field but a top-tier teammate, as well.
“With Mitchell, it was pretty cool,” Franklin said. “I’m at the American Football Coaches Association. And, I think I was standing there in the lobby with Taylor Stubblefield. And, this guy comes up to us, and it’s Mitchell Tinsley’s coach from Western Kentucky.
“He could not have gone on, and on, and on, about more positive things about that young man. And as you know, when guys transfer, that’s not always the case. This guy just could not have been more positive.”
According to his official Hilltoppers bio, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Tinsley originally chose WKU over Akron, Ball State, Marshall, Massachusetts, New Mexico State, South Alabama, Southeast Missouri State, and Tennessee Tech after spending two seasons at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas.
The Lee’s Summit, Missouri native quickly thrived in the Conference USA program’s offense. Over two seasons, he caught 130 passes for 1,779 yards and 18 touchdowns. The success led Tinsley to decide he wanted to play at a higher level.
Penn State, Tinsley, make perfect pair
Penn State, for its part, was looking for a Jahan Dotson replacement after he left school early to enter the 2022 NFL Draft. Tinsley could envision himself playing that role in blue and white. He committed to the school without ever visiting and enrolled for the start of the spring semester a little more than two weeks after announcing his choice on Christmas Eve.
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“Being a one-year guy, I had to make sure that whatever school that I was gonna choose to go to, it was going to be the right fit,” Tinsley told BWI.
“I felt like, Penn State has the offense, and the right pieces that could be around me, to make me be able to be successful next year.”
It wasn’t just Dotson that made Tinsley want to be a Lion. The entirety of the Lions’ offense did, too, as he learned more about it on ZOOM calls with the staff. Quarterback Sean Clifford returning played a big role, as well.
The two are now roommates, and it’s so far, so good for Tinsley at Penn State with spring practice on the horizon.
“The strength staff has been really impressed by him,” Franklin said. Sean Clifford has been really impressed with him. That gives us a veteran guy witch Jahan leaving. Jahan, obviously, was extremely productive. Mitchell was very, very productive as well. It gives us an older guy.
“We think we got some really talented young receivers as well. But this gives us an older, veteran presence who’s had a lot of production in that room. So I think there’s going to be a lot of value for both parties there.”
