Penn State linebacker Amare Campbell has made his decision regarding the 2026 season, and it will take him away from State College.
Campbell plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal.
Campbell arrived at Penn State last offseason after spending his first two seasons at North Carolina.
He initially entered the transfer portal following the 2024 campaign but chose to remain in Chapel Hill for Bill Belichick’s first spring with the Tar Heels. After completing spring practices, Campbell opted to move on, ultimately transferring to Penn State and teaming up with fellow Virginia native and linebacker Tony Rojas.
Penn State needed immediate help at linebacker, and Campbell delivered.
He started all 13 games during the 2025 season and was a fixture in the defense, participating in 90.8% of Penn State’s total possible snaps (769 of a possible 847 snaps), according to Pro Football Focus. Campbell emerged as Penn State’s top run defender, earning an 83.0 PFF grade and leading the team in total tackles (103) and solo stops (64).
Linebackers coach Dan Connor leaned heavily on Campbell from the outset, but his role grew even larger after Rojas suffered a season-ending injury.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.From that point, Campbell rarely left the field, providing consistency and physicality in the middle of the defense on a weekly basis.
Campbell’s performance earned postseason recognition, as he was named a third-team All-Big Ten selection by the media, while conference coaches placed him on the honorable mention list.
Campbell took to his social media accounts thanking James Franklin, Dan Connor, and other Penn State staff but felt he couldn’t feel undervalued leading to his decision.
With his entry into the portal, Penn State will lose one of its most productive defenders from 2025, while Campbell will look for his next opportunity after a standout season in Happy Valley.
