Why did Penn State pluck Alonzo Ford and Audavion Collins out of the transfer portal late?

Penn State made two of its latest transfer portal additions since the player-movement mechanism became a factor in college athletics this offseason. The Nittany Lions waited until mid-May to add a pair of defenders who have since arrived on campus. One was necessitated by a departure. The other was a luxury add at a position where numbers are never a bad thing.

We’ll start with the former. Audavion Collins is the Lions’ newest cornerback. He stands 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, and came to State College after spending just a single season at Mississippi State. The former three-star On3 Industry Ranking recruit from the Class of 2023 did not see the filed there. But, the Lions believe he can play at the FBS level and also replace the body they lost when former North Carolina transfer Storm Duck left the Lions after a single semester to move on to Louisville.

“We had gone to transfer portal and got a young man and then that young man ended up leaving,” Lions head coach James Franklin said. “So finding another guy like that was important. We went back and watched [Collins’] high school tape. He’s a little bit different situation because he’s got four years of eligibility, which is unusual. So we had to go back and watch his high school tape. We really liked his high school tape. I called Mississippi State, had a good conversation with their head coach there [Zach Arnett]. And [Collin]’s come here and done well. He’s tested well, he’s quick, and he’s fast, and he’s explosive. He needs to eat a few sandwiches.

More: Did Penn State win or lose in the transfer portal this offseason?

“But besides that, we’ve been impressed so far. And he’s an awesome kid, loved him and his dad on the visit. So that’s been a good fit for us. We’ll see how that plays out, whether it’s depth, or whether it’s starter, or whether it’s special teams. That’s to be determined, that’s up to him and what he does with the opportunity.”

Ford gives Penn State another body up front

Collins, like Alonzo Ford, must add some weight before fully being ready to play at this level. Ford picked Penn State after hitting the transfer portal following a stint at Old Dominion. He checks in at 6-foot-2, 280 pounds and fills a spot on the roster that the Lions were hoping to take care of before preseason camp.

“I just felt like we needed a little bit more depth at d-tackle,” Franklin said. “Those positions, there’s a lot of physicality and contact. So having some guys with experience at those positions, and depth, being able to watch him on tape against Virginia and against Virginia Tech, and how he played against those opponents, was helpful for us because we feel like that’s got the best ability for us to kind of determine how his skills will transfer at this level.

“But then also obviously having Ricky Rahne, one of my former staff members, as the head coach there, being able to call him and get feedback there as well, and another guy that has multiple years of eligibility, is really a three for two guy. So that helps, too. But I think for us, we’d like to build it with high school players, but when you can go out and solve some problems, whether it’s starters or depth, with proven commodities from other colleges, that helps. We also like the guys that have multiple years, because it gives them time to adjust too.”

Collins and Ford are both adjusting well. It’s one of the reasons Penn State wanted them as late finds in the transfer portal. Now, it’s on them to make the most of their new opportunity at a new school.