Matt Campbell has employed a pretty clear strategy for the Penn State Nittany Lions in the transfer portal.
Matt Campbell took the Penn State Nittany Lions head-coaching job back in December, and as expected, the team has seen massive turnover.
Penn State has watched as 47 players have departed the program via the transfer portal this winter, although the Nittany Lions have also bagged 36 players, as well.
They don't have full commitments from all of them just yet, but that will hopefully be coming soon.
Antonio Morales and Sam Khan Jr. of The Athletic published a piece on the schools that have experienced the most activity in the portal this offseason, and obviously, Penn State made the list.
But Morales and Khan noticed something particular about Campbell's strategy in attacking the transfer portal ... and it's not just bringing in former Iowa State players.
"You may sense a theme developing here. Yes, Campbell took a lot of Cyclones with him to Happy Valley — 21 so far," Morales and Khan wrote. "He’s brought in a few others from within the Big Ten, namely UCLA defensive lineman Keanu Williams and Ohio State running back James Peoples. Campbell’s definitely seeking experience: 14 of the Nittany Lions’ commitments have at least 10 career starts."
Penn State Nittany Lions coach Matt Campbell. Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images.Clearly, Campbell is trying to win as soon as possible and doesn't want to sit around and wait for his transfer additions to develop.
It's an interesting but understandable method by Campbell, who is taking over a Nittany Lions program that entered 2025 with national championship aspirations and ended up going just 7-6.
Penn State got off to a 3-0 start this past season, but then lost six games in a row. James Franklin was fired midway through that losing streak, and while the Nittany Lions reeled off four straight wins — including a Pinstripe Bowl victory over Clemson — to end the season, it was clear significant changes were needed.
Yes, Penn State lost some very good players to the portal, but perhaps the experienced it has obtained with its additions with allow the club to be a much more competitive football team in 2026.
Campbell spent the last decade at Iowa State, with his best season coming in 2024 when he led the Cyclones to an 11-3 record.