Penn State coach James Franklin wanted a linebacker and he got one with the help of a Hall of Fame coach.
Franklin is good friends with Mack Brown, whose most recent stop was at North Carolina from 2019-24.
One of the best players on what turned out to be his last UNC team was linebacker Amare Campbell.
Campbell recorded 76 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss last season as a sophomore. He played in all 13 of UNC’s games and picked up five or more tackles in nine.
Kobe King declaring for the Draft opened a hole at linebacker for Penn State, and Ta’Mere Robinson entering the transfer portal opened another one.
So Franklin knew something needed to be done in the spring portal window, and Brown recommended that Campbell would be a good guy to help Penn State.
As did Penn State linebacker Tony Rojas, who posted his endorsement to social media.
This past Thursday, Franklin talked to media for the first time since Campbell’s commitment.
WHAT JAMES SAID
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now
Franklin hinted that he didn’t expect to lose Robinson, and when he did, he knew he had to act.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.“I hated to lose the player we lost,” Franklin said. “I think you guys know we’re committed to our current roster and the retention of our current roster. That’s priority No. 1 for us.“
“But when that happens, you gotta move on and you gotta find the next best option for Penn State.”
Franklin then mentioned how the endorsements helped.
“Tony Rojas felt strongly about him being a really good fit for us,” Franklin said. “Mack Brown, who’s a good friend, felt like he would be a good fit. So far so good based on first impressions.”
‘HARD TO FIND’
Campbell will be playing under arguably America’s best defensive coordinator in Jim Knowles.
For Knowles, who Penn State hired away from reigning national champ Ohio State over the winter, Campbell’s versatility stands out.
It’s Official: Penn State Hires Jim Knowles as Defensive Coordinator
Campbell is athletic enough to play in space and savvy enough to play the MIKE, starting five games there last season.
“What I saw from Amare was the ability to play in space, and then also inside the box,” Knowles said Thursday. “So I thought he had a really nice combination of the athletic skills necessary to operate in the open field, but when it came to being tough inside, you know, those are the linebackers that are hard to find.”
