Smith Vilbert picks his transfer destination; where will the former Penn State defensive end play next?
Former Penn State defensive end Smith Vilbert has decided where he will play next. After initially deciding to come back for a seventh season with the Nittany Lions in January, the Monsey, N.Y., native entered the transfer portal in late February. After searching for a new home for less than a month, he committed to North Carolina on Wednesday. There, he will play for legendary head coach Bill Belichick, who is in his first season as the Tar Heels’ leader.
“PSU Family I just wanted to say I appreciate all the love and support over the years that I’ve been apart of this program,” Vilbert wrote on Twitter. “I’ve met some great individuals that I can honestly call my brother’s, and some great coaches.
“I am Glad I can officially say I am a PSU graduate alumni thank you! Last ride best ride!!!”
Why Vilbert decided to return and then move on is not clear. He recorded 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles over 339 snaps in 2024. Cal was also in the running for the former Nittany Lion, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.
Vilbert recorded 20 tackles over 35 career games with the Nittany Lions. After netting three sacks in the Outback Bowl to end the 2021 season, hopes were high that the former three-star recruit in the On3 Industry Rankings was rounding into form and ready to be a bigger part of the Penn State defense. But, he played in just one game in 2022 before missing all of the 2023 season due to injury. That setback allowed him to petition the NCAA for an extra year, which he will now use in Chapel Hill, after he used his COVID year to play for head coach James Franklin’s team in 2024.
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Penn State transfer portal recap
Vilbert is not the only former Penn State player to pick a new college this offseason. And, in reverse, the Nittany Lions have landed a handful of newcomers, too, who played elsewhere last fall. Here’s the breakdown:
Portal losses:
S Tyrece Mills: UCONN
CB Cam Miller: Rutgers
WR Mehki Flowers: Akron
TE Jerry Cross: Memphis
WR Trey Wallace: Ole Miss
WR Omari Evans: Washington
DL Smith Vilbert: North Carolina
DT T.A. Cunningham: Garden City Community College
QB Beau Pribula: Missouri
WR Mehki Flowers: Akron
WR Tyler Johnson: East Carolina
Portal pickups:
No. 5: WR Devonte Ross (from Troy)
#11: WR Kyron Hudson (USC)
No. 16: S King Mack (Alabama)
No. 34: DT Owen Wafle (Michigan)
#45: DE Enai White (Texas A&M)
No. 54: T.J. Shanahan (Texas A&M)
