In transfer portal news, one more Penn State receiver target is off the board.
Late afternoon, Malachi Fields, a 6-foot-4, 220-pounder from Charlottesville, Virginia, announced his commitment to Notre Dame after four seasons at UVA.
BREAKING: Virginia transfer WR Malachi Fields has committed to Notre Dame☘️https://t.co/RHl0IEHK1z pic.twitter.com/OMrKxTg7tK
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal_) December 23, 2024
This one stings for Penn State.
Fields developed from an unheralded recruit— rated two stars by Rivals.com— to one of the best receivers in the ACC. He had 811 yards in 2023 and improved on that this past season, ending with 808 yards and five touchdowns on 55 receptions. But Penn State missing out on Fields also stings because of Fields’ connection with PSU’s receivers coach, Marques Hagans.
THE HAGANS CONNECTION
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Marques Hagans
Fields knows Penn State’s receivers coach quite well because, once upon a time, that was his receivers coach.
As a true freshman, Fields played in 11 of UVA’s 12 games, catching 11 passes for 172 yards. The next season, Fields only played in one game due to injury, which is why he still has another year of eligibility. After 2022, Hagans left UVA for Penn State and Fields stayed in his hometown of Charlottesville.
The next season, Fields, now an upperclassman, had his best year yet. He picked up 811 yards and five touchdowns on 58 catches.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Hagans was happy about Fields being rated lowly because it meant that UVA didn’t have much competition in recruiting him.
“I’m glad they ranked him that, and I’m glad everybody passed on him,” Hagans told UVA’s Website,“because we’re very lucky to have him.”
For a second, it looked like Hagans might have him again and Penn State would land a big get from the transfer portal. But it wasn’t to be.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR PENN STATE?
IOWA CITY IA – SEPTEMBER 14: Iowa safety Deshaun (8) tackles Troy wide receiver Devonte Ross (7) out of bounds after a pass reception during a college football game between the Troy Trojans and the Iowa Hawkeyes, on September 14, 2024, at Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA. (Photo by Keith Gillett/IconSportswire)
The good news is that Penn State is after a 1,000-yard receiver.
Last week, Penn State hosted Devonte Ross, a 5-foot-11, 161-pounder, had 1,043 yards and 11 touchdowns on 76 catches in 2024.
He has one season of eligibility remaining, and Penn State would like it if he spent that season in Happy Valley. Ross has been getting playing time since his true freshman season of 2022, and has played 39 games during his college career. It’s hard to tell how Ross’ success would translate to the Big Ten but Penn State does indeed need receivers.
Penn State already has one receiver committed out of the portal in USC’s Kyron Hudson.
