Top Penn State transfer portal target locks in official visit with the Lions
Penn State football has wasted no time attacking the transfer portal now that the regular season is over. The Nittany Lions sent their first offer out to a prospect looking for a new college home on Wednesday. Now, that player has locked in an official visit to see the program in person.
Shorter University (Division-II) offensive tackle Alan Herron will take a 48-hour all-expenses-paid trip to see Penn State on the weekend of Dec. 8, he told Blue-White Illustrated publisher Sean Fitz on Thursday. Herron is one of the hottest names in the portal. He has been in it since mid-November, but his notoriety in terms of offers has skyrocketed since the FBS regular season ended. The Lions are joined on his rapidly growing list of suitors by schools such as Auburn, Louisville, Miami, Clemson, and Texas Tech, among others.
Herron, who is native to Westmoreland, Jamaica, and played high school football in Georgia, stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 310 pounds, according to his Shorter University bio. He played in 22 games for the school over the last two seasons. The On3 Industry Transfer Portal Rankings call him a three-star who is the 12th-best offensive tackle currently in the portal. Penn State will have a chance to impress him in hopes of landing him next weekend.
Offensive line is a Penn State portal priority this offseason
Fitz ranked the position portal priorities for Penn State earlier this week. Offensive line, and specifically tackle, checked in at No. 2 on his top-five countdown.
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“Yes, everyone wants offensive linemen in the Portal,” Fitz writes. “They’re not cheap, however, and they’re not a sure thing. But Penn State will certainly look at jockey to add someone to the room this offseason. While chips can still fall with players coming back for 2024, Penn State does technically have two starting tackle spots up for grabs. That can be appealing to the right prospect.
“We expect Phil Trautwein to be active in pursuing linemen in the Portal. That doesn’t necessarily only mean tackles, either, although that’s always the preference.”
Penn State is losing starting left tackle Olu Fashanu to the NFL this offseason. Starting center Hunter Nourzad is also moving on, as he is out of eligibility. And, while he could return for a sixth and final season, starting left tackle Caedan Wallace is probably gone, as well. Thus, the offensive line, both starters and backups, will be full of new faces next fall. Will one or more of them come from the portal? Time will tell. But, Herron is the top name to watch at the moment.
