Penn State earned a commitment from a veteran Big 10 defensive lineman on Monday night.
Former UCLA lineman Keanu Williams announced on Instagram that he is joining the Nittany Lions.
A 6-foot-5 redshirt senior, Williams is entering his sixth season of eligibility. 247Sports considers Williams a four-star transfer portal recruit.
Williams is 320 pounds and brings the frame of a tough run stuffer that Penn State has been lacking the last few seasons.
He started 11 of 12 games for UCLA in 2025, making a career-high 39 tackles. Williams recorded a tackle in every game and had two tackles in UCLA’s stunning victory over Penn State.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.He played his first two years at Oregon (2021-22). Over five seasons, Williams recorded 59 total tackles, two passes defended, and 1.5 sacks.
Penn State hired former UCLA defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe as defensive line coach, who will bring Williams with him to Happy Valley.
Williams is the first transfer portal commit for Penn State outside that is not from Iowa State, where 19 players are joining Matt Campbell from last year’s team.
Penn State lost over 30 players to the transfer portal and has only signed 12 players in the recruiting class 0f 2026, so many more transfers are likely to come to build the roster. The transfer portal opened on Friday and the 15-day window closes on January 16.
