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Penn State picks up commitment from transfer portal linebacker target Amare Campbell

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•05/06/25•

GregPickel

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(Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

Penn State is adding its second spring transfer portal commitment and first on defense. Former North Carolina linebacker Amare Campbell committed to the Nittany Lions on Tuesday, his agency A&P Sports announced. ESPN’s Pete Thamel first reported the news.

The Manassas, Va., native was in State College this week for an official visit. He previously visited SMU, and the Mustangs were another top option. However, similar to the College Football Playoff opening round, head coach James Franklin’s side beat out the AAC school in the end.

Campbell, who stands 6-foot, 230 pounds, initially entered the transfer portal during the winter window. However, he returned to the team for spring practice. But, once those drills ended, he returned to the portal and set out in earnest to find a new college football home. The defender will have two seasons of eligibility left to use at Penn State. After playing some as a true freshman in 2023, he made 76 tackles in 2024, which was the second most for the Tar Heels last fall. He was also second with 10.5 tackles for loss. Campbell also racked up 6.5 sacks, which was the second most on the team. And, he had five quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble.

The On3 Industry Rankings call Campbell the top available player in the transfer portal as of early May, and thus, he is the No. 1 available linebacker, as well.

Campbell fills Penn State void at linebacker

Penn State exited spring practice with just eight scholarship linebackers after Ta’Mere Robinson left during drills and ended up at USC. Following the Blue-White game, Franklin made clear that his program was going to try and add a player at that position via the portal.

“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.”

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