One of the biggest WR names in the transfer portal, who Penn State had expressed interest in, has committed to a different school.
Raymond Cottrell, who announced he’d be entering the transfer portal from Texas A&M last month and heard from Penn State not long after, has committed to Kentucky.
🚨BREAKING: Texas A&M transfer WR Raymond Cottrell has committed to Kentucky https://t.co/Azh3qCj3jO pic.twitter.com/U3k83TR7iP
— On3 (@On3sports) December 9, 2023
Cottrell was the No. 8 receiver in the portal according to 247Sports.
Penn State will surely address the receiver position over this transfer portal window. That was probably the least productive position group in 2023 and something that many cite as a big reason the team didn’t beat Ohio State or Michigan and thus didn’t win the Big Ten or make it to the College Football Playoff.
But Cottrell is now off the board.
Cottrell announced his decision to enter the portal Sunday, the same day Texas A&M fired its head coach, Jimbo Fisher. Cottrell’s in his first college football season, and his career stats thus far amount to just one catch— a 13-yard touchdown against Louisiana Monroe.
But the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder has strong upside, and at this point, he’s the No. 1 player in the portal according to 247. He signed with Texas A&M as a four-star recruit out of Florida’s Milton High School after having initially been committed to Georgia.
In a scouting report published last December, 247’s Andrew Ivins described Cottrell as “A big-framed pass catcher that can create some separation.”
“No verified measurements available, but looks to be at least 6-foot-2 and over 205 pounds. Uses that extra weight to pick up chunks of yardage after the catch on Friday nights as he will stiff arm would-be tacklers or try and run right through them. Pretty technically sound as a route runner and appears to be a natural ball catcher, which is always encouraging. Shouldn’t exactly be viewed as a burner, but has shown that he can find extra gear and has gone as low as 11.13 in the 100-meter dash. Spent much of junior season lined up on the outside.”
Aside from KeAndre Lambert-Smith (53 catches, 673 yards, four TD), no Penn State WR had more than 246 yards. But Penn State’s had quality options at receiver throughout the James Franklin era. Players such as Chris Godwin, Jahan Dotson and KJ Hamler all became high-round NFL draft picks.
