STATE COLLEGE – Once Amare Campbell placed his name in the transfer portal in April, it didn’t take long for linebackers coach Dan Connor to know that he wanted him at Penn State.
Connor had recruited Campbell when he was a high school player in Manassas, Va., and liked him then. He liked him even more after watching videotape from Campbell’s first two seasons at North Carolina.
“I saw a guy who was slippery,” Connor said Thursday, “who was hard to block, who could create plays and not just play within a scheme. There was a sideline-to-sideline element to his game. He’s a jack of all trades. He can cover. He can blitz.
“When you have that plus validation from guys who he grew up with, it checks every box.”
The 6-0, 230-pound Campbell transferred to Penn State in May after Ta’Mere Robinson left for Southern Cal. Linebacker Tony Rojas, also a Virginia native, campaigned for the Nittany Lions to sign Campbell. Rojas and Dominic DeLuca are returning starters at linebacker.
“I hated to lose the player we lost,” Penn State coach James 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.”
Last season with the Tar Heels, Campbell had 76 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups and one forced fumble. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
“Tony Rojas felt strongly about him being a really good fit for us,” Franklin said. “(Former North Carolina coach) Mack Brown, who’s a good friend, felt like he would be a good fit. So far so good based on first impressions.”
Granville out: Penn State redshirt freshman Max Granville, who was expected to see significant playing…
Source link : https://www.readingeagle.com/2025/06/06/penn-state-notes-north-carolina-transfer-amare-campbell-adds-depth-at-linebacker/
Author :
Publish date : 2025-06-06 16:18:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
