A trend that plenty of fans of Penn State and college football in general find disturbing is starting: players announcing their plans to enter the transfer portal midseason.
Like many disturbing things, it started in Las Vegas.
UNLV starting quarterback Matthew Sluka announced Tuesday evening that, after leading UNLV to a 3-0 start, 53 AP Top 25 votes and College Football Playoff contention for the Group of 5 automatic bid, he’s sitting out the rest of the season due to a disagreement with the school regarding Name, Image and Likeness.
— Matthew Sluka (@MatthewSluka) September 25, 2024
Another UNLV player, RB Michael Allen, announced Wednesday that he planned to sit out the rest of the season and enter the portal later. Allen wrote to social media that his decision has nothing to do with NIL but rather a lack of playing time.
My decision has no ties to NIL agreements. This is due to on-field opportunities. I did not receive a dime from any UNLV collective.
— Michael Allen (@MichaelAllen8_) September 25, 2024
This brings us to USC and Bear Alexander.
Per multiple reports— first by Connor Morrissette of USCFootball.com— Alexander plans to redshirt the rest of this season and enter the portal after.
BREAKING: Bear Alexander intends to redshirthttps://t.co/N09G8mSR0V
— Connor Morrissette (@C_Morrissette) September 25, 2024
When the 6-foot-3, 315-pound DL first entered the transfer portal from Georgia in the spring of 2023, Penn State was one of his six finalists.
Since then, he’s played a season plus in LA.
This year, he has played 68 total snaps through three games per Pro Football Focus, with 28 of those coming in the team’s upset win over LSU Week 1.
Ironically, that win took place in Los Vegas.
Alexander redshirting means he won’t be available for USC when Penn State comes to the Coliseum for an Oct. 12 showdown.
As far as beyond that, who knows. But with multiple defensive tackles set to leave Penn State over the offseason, Penn State could well be looking for some out of the transfer portal.
