Transfer Storm Duck adds to bright 2023 outlook at cornerback for Penn State
Penn State’s secondary saw an early departure ahead of the 2023 season in Joey Porter Jr., but the Nittany Lions moved quickly to replenish their numbers at cornerback in the Transfer Portal. Former North Carolina corner Storm Duck announced his commitment to the Nittany Lions on Wednesday afternoon and filled a hole for his future team in the process.
The cornerback room next season was already strong at the top of the depth chart, with Kalen King coming off of a breakout season and Johnny Dixon earning All-Big Ten honorable mention honors as well. Both earned starts opposite Porter during the first two months of the season and took over when Porter had to go on the shelf after an appendectomy. Nickel corner Daequan Hardy returns in the slot as well.
“I feel like when Joey didn’t play for us, there was no drop-off. Johnny Dixon came in and we were still clicking,” Kalen King said earlier this month. “That’s the good thing about our corner room. Even if one person goes down, we’ve got depth at the position. Each one of our corners could be a starter at any program and not a lot of places can say that.”
Penn State was searching for experience in the portal
Beyond that, however, there were questions about who would be able to step up and play to the standard that the position recently established under Terry Smith. Marquis Wilson appeared in 10 games last season, recording 18 tackles and two pass breakups. Freshman Cam Miller is one to watch. The Florida native played mostly on special teams for the Nittany Lions this season and hopes to make a leap into the rotation next season. The Nittany Lions signed a pair of cornerbacks last week in Elliot Washington and Zion Tracy as well.
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Lingering questions about the experience on the depth chart made corner a spot that Penn State identified as a Portal priority early.
“I think I want one in my room,” Smith said on Dec. 21. “But we won’t take a guy just to take a guy. We have to take a guy that we feel is a fit and a need. So you always just keep looking, and if the right fit comes along, you dive into that thing and see if it makes sense.”
Penn State offered Duck shortly after he entered the Portal in early December. The 2022 second-team All-ACC performer kept his second recruitment quiet, but several schools were in pursuit. Duck had 46 tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble in 12 games this season. Listed at 6-foot-0.75, 200-pound by the Tar Heels, Duck gives the Nittany Lions a larger cornerback to play the boundary spot that was vacated by Porter.
