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Penn State is hosting transfer portal linebacker target Amare Campbell for a visit

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•05/05/25•

GregPickel

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(Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

Penn State is hosting former North Carolina linebacker Amare Campbell for a visit. The former Tar Heel posted a picture of downtown State College on Instagram Monday morning. On3’s Pete Nakos previously reported that the Manassas, Va., native was set to arrive in town on Sunday following a trip to SMU.

Campbell hit the portal during the recently completed 10-day spring window. He actually hit the portal initially during the winter window. But, he then elected to give new head coach Bill Belichick and his staff a chance during the program’s 15 practices between March and April. Once those were wrapped up, he officially decided to move on.

In 2024, the 6-foot, 230-pound defender made 76 tackles and recorded 6.5 sacks. He also played some as a true freshman in 2023. Campbell is the second portal possibility at linebacker to visit Penn State since the Blue-White game back on April 26. Former Rutgers team captain and senior Mohamed Toure, the brother of current Nittany Lion safety Vaboue Toure, was in town last week. He has not yet made a decision as of Monday morning.

Campbell has two seasons of eligibility left to use at his next school. The Mustangs and Lions are the two known suitors for his services at this time.

Penn State wants to add a transfer linebacker

After losing Ta’Mere Robinson to USC in April, head coach James Franklin made clear that Penn State would like to find another addition at the position before preseason camp starts in August. Campbell and Toure are the top targets at this time.

“We’re not a big portal team, but we’re going to have to address some issues,” Franklin said. “So if there is a linebacker out there that wants to come and be a part of our program and play for LBU, the most historic linebacker program in the history of college football, there’s an opportunity here to join the room and compete. So we will look at that.

“I think we got enough in the room. But to get through an entire season if we get some injuries, it could get challenging. So we’re going to look at the portal and see if we could find a solution. As you guys know, more times than not, we’d like it to be somebody that is connected to us and that we know. Because, we got a really good locker room, and I’ll make sure that we’re bringing the right people in our locker room. We’re very protective of that.”

Right now, Toure and Campbell are the top two targets.

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