Tag: David Blay

Penn State extends offer to standout defensive tackle transfer David Blay

Penn state extends offer to one of the top defensive tackles in the transfer portal.

If history repeats itself, then Penn State won’t be that active in the transfer portal. [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] hasn’t used that newfound weapon as a way to build a roster, instead preferring the development option which has turned this program into a perennial Big Ten contender.

Things could be a bit different this time around, though.

There are clear needs the Nittany Lions will have to fill ahead of next season with the potential departures upcoming by way of graduation and the NFL draft. To remain in title contention, they’ll need to find some ready-made players who can come in and make an impact.

Franklin and [autotag]Deion Barnes[/autotag] believe they have identified one.

According to Sean Fitz of BlueWhiteIllustrated, Penn State has extended an offer to transfer defensive tackle [autotag]David Blay[/autotag], the first scholarship they have extended in the portal to date.

Interior defenders are huge for the success of teams around the country, and if the Nittany Lions are able to land Blay, that would be a huge win for them.

The 6-foot-4, 300-pounder was named First-Team All-Conference USA after compiling 46 total tackles, 10.5 of them for loss, while also wracking up 6.5 sacks.

Blay is a Pennsylvania native from Levittown, but as an unrated prospect in high school, he wasn’t on the radar of many teams and enrolled at Division II program West Chester University to start his collegiate career.

Now, he is one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal with 247Sports listing him as the 17th-best prospect available and No. 2 overall at his position.

Penn State will have a battle on their hands if they want to land him, so it’s a good sign the coaching staff is making him a priority early on.

Oklahoma Sooners offer transfer portal defensive tackle

The Oklahoma Sooners are hoping to fortify their defensive tackle ranks with an offer to a talented transfer interior defensive lineman.

The Oklahoma Sooners defensive interior was one of the strengths of the roster in 2024. [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Da’Jon Terry[/autotag], [autotag]Gracen Halton[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag] formed a strong rotation that helped the Sooners become one of the best run defenses in the nation.

With Terry off to the NFL, the Sooners are looking to fortify their rotation and have issued an offer to [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] defensive lineman David Blay. Blay posted that Oklahoma offered on X.

Blay led the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs with 6 1/2 sacks and 11 tackles for loss in 2024. He also had 46 total tackles for a defense that finished 20th in the nation in scoring. According to Pro Football Focus, Blay was 12th among defensive tackles in college football in PFF’s “stops” metric.

Against Arkansas, Blay recorded six total tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack. In Week 2 against North Carolina State, the talented defensive tackle had two total tackles and a tackle for loss.

At 6-foot-4 and 303 pounds, Blay has the requisite size to play on the inside for an SEC defense and would be a strong addition to the Sooners defensive tackle rotation.

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Wisconsin football offers LA Tech breakout veteran transfer defensive lineman

Wisconsin football offers veteran transfer defensive lineman

Wisconsin extended an offer to Louisiana Tech transfer defensive lineman David Blay on Monday.

Blay becomes the Badgers’ third defensive lineman transfer offer since the portal officially opened on Dec. 9, joining Elon defensive end Cazeem Moore and Louisville edge rusher Mason Reiger. Chattanooga linebacker Alex Mitchell, Miami (OH) wide receiver Javon Tracy, Richmond safety Matthew Traynor and Miami (OH) cornerback Raion Strader have also received offers from Wisconsin in the portal as of Dec. 9.

Like his contemporaries, Blay has drawn immediate interest from a bevy of programs upon entering the portal. Houston, Tulane, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Arkansas and Illinois have all reached out thus far.

The 6-foot-4, 303-pound defender announced his intention to enter the portal on Dec. 6 after two years with the Bulldogs’ program. The redshirt junior started in all 12 games at defensive tackle in 2024 and registered 46 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, and 6.5 sacks.

His most dominant performance came against Arkansas on Nov. 23 when he tallied two tackles for loss and a sack against the SEC squad.

Wisconsin’s need for playmakers on its defensive front is clear. The Badgers are losing their top three defensive tackles entering 2025: Elijah Hills (eligibility), James Thompson Jr. (transfer portal) and Curt Neal (transfer portal). Experience and production at that position, one which struggled at times in 2024, is paramount.

Blay, Moore and Reiger figure to be the first batch of many defensive front players to receive offers from UW in the transfer portal. Both positions along the defensive line are some of the program’s biggest needs during this offseason portal period.