Earlier this month, Penn State wide receiver Tyseer Denmark pledged his commitment to the Nittany Lions program and new coach Matt Campbell. Then, all of a sudden, there was a change of heart. He Entered the Transfer Portal on Jan. 6.
It was a surprising decision that he would pledge his commitment to the program that signed him out of high school, but there was one big difference from 2024. The head coach. The staff that brought him into State College was nearly gone after the school fired James Franklin.
Franklin was hired at Virginia Tech in November and brought some of his former assistants from Penn State with him to Blacksburg. Penn State thought they were going to retain some key players under Campbell, but that didn't happen. After nearly 10 days in the portal, Denmark committed to Franklin and Virginia Tech, creating another Penn State to Virginia Tech domino to fall.
James Franklin plucking Penn State players in the portal continues to be a big domino
Denmark was the 76th-ranked wide receiver in the Class of 2024, and during his time with the Nittany Lions, he played in 12 games, caught four passes for 45 yards and a touchdown. When he departed, he was the fifth Penn State wide receiver to enter the portal, the second to follow Franklin to the Hokies. Jeff Exinor was the first to make the move to Blacksburg.
Campbell has brought in five wide receivers to make up for the losses he has had since he was hired at Penn State from Iowa State. However, after pledging his commitment to the Nittany Lions, only to leave in the portal, and then to join Franklin, is just another domino to fall in Franklin's favor since being hired in Blacksburg.
Denmark leaving Penn State to follow Franklin to Virginia Tech is the latest domino that continues to fall in the former Nittany Lions' coaches' favor. It's a loud statement that not many people want to believe. For those counting at home, that's about a dozen former Nittany Lions now Hokies.