A former Penn State defender has re-entered the transfer portal.
Monday, Dec. 9, was the first day the 2024 ย portal has been open.
That morning, Ken Talley, a 6-foot-3, 256-pound EDGE, entered the transfer portal after three seasons with Michigan State, per Pete Nakos of On3Sports.
He previously announced his intentions to do so days before the portal opened. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
NEWS: Michigan State EDGE Ken Talley has officially entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, per @PeteNakos_.
A former 4-star Penn State signee.https://t.co/PrJEUtd9Qk pic.twitter.com/nQTDzUOjgi
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal_) December 9, 2024
Talley appeared in games during the 2023 and โ24 season. He picked up a total of 11 tackles and ย 1.5 sacks. He got significantly more playing time on 2024 than he did in 23. Talley played 152 snaps per Pro Football Focus compared to 58 the year before. But Penn State fans will know of Talley because he used to be a PSU player.
PART OF A HISTORIC CLASS
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Penn State QB Drew Allar
Penn State fans will always remember the 2022 recruiting class fondly. Itโs not too often a program gets players such as Drew Allar, Abdul Carter, Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen and Dani Dennis-Sutton all in the same recruiting class but thatโs what coach James Franklin and Penn State did three winters ago. Talley, ย a 6-3, 230-pound Edge from Northeast High School in the Philly area, ย was part of that Class, committing in September 2020.
A consensus four-star recruit, Talley came to Penn State as a โhard hitter who tackles through the ball carrier,โ according to his scouting report on 247.
Talley had offers from Akron, Arizona State, Baylor and Boston College, and was praised by Franklin on that yearโs Signing Day for โnever waveringโ from his commitment from Penn State.
He then enrolled in the summer and, a little more than a week into fall camp, announced that heโd be entering the transfer portal.
FILLING A NEED?
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Abdul Carter
Penn State will most likely be losing a lot at EDGE after this season. Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Carter is almost a sure bet to declare for the Draft, and itโs possible Dennis-Sutton does, too. Penn State will also be losing a key depth piece in Amin Vanover, who will be out of eligibility. So EDGE could be looked at as a position of need for Penn State in the transfer portal.
No. 6 Penn State has its first playoff game against No. 11 SMU Saturday, Dec. 21 at Beaver Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for noon on TNT.
