A young Penn State linebacker plans to enter the transfer portal.
This was revealed early Tuesday afternoon, when Kari Jackson announced via Instagram that he planned to move on.
Jackson was at Penn State for two seasons, redshirting in 2024 and appearing in one game (Nevada) on special teams in 2025.
Jackson’s relatively young career is one that’s already featured plenty of bad luck. In his senior season at Michigan’s West Bloomfield High School in 2023, Jackson suffered a season-ending injury on the first game. The next year, Jackson suffered an injury during the summer that, once again, led to him being out for the year.
Now, Jackson is entering the portal with three seasons of eligibility left.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.“Thank you Penn State!” Jackson wrote to Instagram. “To my coaches, my teammates and the entire Nittany Lions family: Thank you for believing in me and pushing me every day. I’ve decided to enter the transfer portal and am excited to see where God takes me next.”
Although the injury cost Jackson virtually all of his senior season, he still turned in a stellar high school career, which is why Penn State wanted him. He started his career at West Bloomfield High School, played his sophomore season at Florida’s famous IMG Academy. He returned to play his upper classman years at West Bloomfield. He helped West Bloomfield to a state title as a freshman and was an all-state performer by the end of his junior season. That season, he ended up with 103 tackles (65 solo), three sacks, 26 tackles for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble and six QB pressures.
Jackson is the sixth Penn State player who plans to enter the transfer portal, joining fellow defenders A.J. Harris, Chaz Coleman and Elliot Washington, along with tight end Joey Schlaffer and offensive lineman Alex Birchmeier.
The portal window is scheduled to open Jan. 2 and run through Jan. 16.
