Tag: Storm Duck

2024 has potential to be Penn State’s largest draft class this century

Could this be the best NFL draft class from Penn State this century?

Penn State has been a strong NFL pipeline for the league’s entire history, but this year’s class could be one of their most prominent.

According to NFL Mock Draft Database, there are currently nine Nittany Lions who are projected to be selected. That would be their most this century as well as their most since the 1996 draft. Only four players are being mocked in the first three rounds however, with tackle [autotag]Olu Fashanu[/autotag], edge rusher [autotag]Chop Robinson[/autotag], defensive back [autotag]Kalen King[/autotag], and edge rusher [autotag]Adisa Isaac[/autotag] headlining the group.

Penn State’s class has its fair share of mid-to-late round options as well, with linebacker [autotag]Curtis Jacobs[/autotag], defensive back [autotag]Johnny Dixon[/autotag], tight end [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag], defensive back [autotag]Storm Duck[/autotag], and defensive back [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag] all being likely selections. For good reason, Fashanu and Robinson have gotten most of the hype, but this class overall has plenty to offer to NFL teams.

Kalen King and Adisa Isaac especially have an opportunity to raise their stock as the draft process plays out, and one of them seems to be doing just that. Isaac has been having a great showing at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, showing the burst and power he displayed as a senior this season in Happy Valley. Just look up his name on Twitter and you will see just how much he is dominating.

King, however, had a brutal showing at the Senior Bowl through two days, although reports from day 3 of practice were more promising. He still has plenty of time to improve his stock, but not the best start to his draft process. Regardless of how well this class performs at the next level, Penn State fans should be happy with how much talent continues to come through the program every season.

Penn State targeting cornerback in transfer portal

Penn State has this cornerback on their transfer portal radar.

Being active in the newest opening of the transfer portal was a goal of [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] after their Spring Game in April. It was clear there were areas of the team where he wanted to add depth. Wide receiver and the defensive line were the main priorities for what he and his coaching staff were targeting in the portal. However, when previous transfer, [autotag]Storm Duck[/autotag], decided to leave the program after one semester on campus, they added cornerback to that list of priorities.

On Tuesday, Penn State decided to go after one of the hottest cornerback transfer targets in the portal. They offered Louisiana corner Trey Amos a scholarship, adding themselves to the list of powerhouse schools who are also targeting Amos.

In the first 24 hours that he entered his name into the transfer portal, Amos received roughly 14 scholarship offers from Power 5 schools across the country.

Originally a three-star recruit out of high school, Amos received only one Power 5 offer before playing his way onto the radar of top schools during his three seasons at Louisiana.

He’s coming off his best college season yet where he recorded 36 total tackles and eight pass breakups in 11 games of action.

Amos is a 6’1″ 197 pound cornerback who plays with physicality on the perimeter. He’s a Louisiana native, which is one of the reasons why On3 has LSU as the favorites to land the coveted prospect. He also played for coach Billy Napier for two seasons at Louisiana before Napier left for Florida. That is another school favored to land him since there is already a relationship between player and coach.

There is currently no timetable yet on when Amos will announce his decision. He has two years of eligibility remaining to play for whatever school he commits to this spring.

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After short stay at Penn State, Storm Duck heading back to ACC out of transfer portal

Cornerback Storm Duck is leaving Penn State after one semester for a return to the ACC.

When Storm Duck arrived in Happy Valley for the spring semester, it was expected he could be a contender to lock down a possible starting job in the secondary going into the 2023 season after transferring from North Carolina. Instead, Duck is flying out of State College and returning to the ACC after a brief stay in the NCAA transfer portal.

On Wednesday, Duck announced his commitment to Louisville. Duck announced his commitment on his Instagram account, ending a quick stop in the transfer limbo that is the portal.

Duck joins another former Penn State player as a transfer with the Cardinals. Rodney McGraw transferred from Penn State to Louisville with immediate eligibility in December 2022.

With Duck officially on the move, Penn State’s outlook at cornerback still looks to be pretty decent heading into the fall. Kalen King returns as a starter to lock down one spot on the top of the depth chart. Daequan Hardy and Johnny Dixon are top candidates to be another starter, and the future of the position appears to be in good hands with players like Cam Miller, Zion Tracy, and Lamont Payne Jr. all among the players to watch moving forward.

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Former UNC DB Storm Duck commits to Louisville

Former UNC football defensive back Storm Duck has committed to an ACC program after leaving Penn State.

The Louisville Cardinals football program has landed another former North Carolina defensive back.

Just a day after former UNC defensive back Cam’Ron Kelly committed to the program after leaving Virginia, they have also landed Storm Duck after he left Penn State. Duck pledged his verbal commitment to Louisville on Wednesday, boosting the Cardinals’ secondary.

The duo of Kelly and Duck who played four years together at UNC will team up once again in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The 6-foot, 190-pound defensive back spent four seasons at North Carolina and had a standout freshman season in 2019. After that, injury-plagued seasons hurt his consistency. Duck opted to transfer out after this past season despite being a second-team All-ACC selection.

He joined Penn State where he planned to spend the final year of his college career. But after the Nittany Lions Spring Game, Duck opted to transfer again.

He will join Louisville looking to land a starting job in a familiar conference.

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After one semester at Penn State, Storm Duck returns to transfer portal

After just one semester on campus, Penn State cornerback Storm Duck jumps back into the transfer portal.

After committing to Penn State out of the transfer portal after the 2022 season, cornerback [autotag]Storm Duck[/autotag] is hopping back in the transfer portal as Penn State wrapped up its spring football practices. Duck will once again evaluate his transfer options and it looks like Penn State will not be among them moving forward.

Duck signed with Penn State in time for the spring semester, where he was expected to use his last year of eligibility to [rovode some depth and stability to the cornerback position, possibly with a chance to be a starter. But as Penn State closed out spring practices, it appeared more likely Duck would be a secondary option in the defensive backfield. Whether that played into a decision to return to the transfer portal is anyone’s guess, but it would seem likely Duck would like to fly to a program where he will be given a good chance of starting in his final year of eligibility.

In 12 games for the Tar Heels last season, Duck recorded 46 tackles, including 36 solo tackles and one tackle for a loss, forced one fumble, and intercepted three passes. Duck was a three-star recruit in North Carolina’s Class of 2019. The South Carolina native committed to the Tar Heels over offers from West Virginia, Temple, Appalachian State, Army, and a handful of FCS programs.

In addition to losing Joey Porter Jr. to the NFL draft, Penn State has also lost two other cornerbacks from last year’s roster with Marquis Wilson and Jeffrey Davis each leaving by way of the transfer portal. Davis committed to Stony Brook and Wilson most recently committed to Purdue.

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Penn State cornerback lands out of the transfer portal with another Big Ten school

One Penn State football player in the transfer portal has found a new home with another Big Ten school.

Three months ago, after Penn State’s successful 2022 season came to an end with a Rose Bowl victory, the Nittany Lions saw several players enter the transfer portal. While some remain in it, one player has now found a home and he has done so within the Big Ten.

Cornerback [autotag]Marquis Wilson[/autotag] is heading to Purdue after spending time in the transfer portal, according to Supreme Athlete who represents him.

Entering what will be his final season of eligibility in college football, Wilson has four years of experience from his time in Happy Valley under his belt. In those four years, he has accumulated two interceptions, three forced fumbles, and 55 tackles. Last year was his best year statistically in the tackle category as he provided run support and racked up a career-high of 20.

Wilson found himself as the odd man out in a loaded defensive backroom. After the team replaced starter [autotag]Joey Porter Jr.[/autotag] There was potential for him to see a larger role but then [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] and his staff were able to enter the transfer portal and grab [autotag]Storm Duck[/autotag] away from North Carolina to fill the spot.

Once that move happened plus the emergence of [autotag]Kalen King[/autotag], he was the odd man out and decided to transfer. Now he has a chance to find success on an always gritty Purdue team that has been a program on the rise as of late.

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5 Things to watch in Penn State’s spring game

Penn State’s Blue-White Game is this week. Here are five things to watch.

Football is in the air in State College in the month of April, and it is that time of year once again for the annual Blue and White Game.

Penn State’s spring game has taken it up a notch in previous years under [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] and this Penn State team is coming off one of its best years in program history. With that comes expectations being raised and more eyeballs on them.

It all starts in the spring game as mentioned but it can all be boiled down to five things that need to be looked at in the Blue and White Game.

James Franklin offers high praise to transfer player

James Franklin praised one of Penn State’s newest additions via the transfer portal

[autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] found the transfer portal last year and succeeded immediately by finding players who can make an immediate impact. It was the first time he truly utilized it and by combining that with a strong freshman class they spearheaded the season they had that ended in a Rose Bowl win.

This year, he took the transfer portal and made it go even more in his favor than in 2022.

He went out and was able to land two starting-caliber wide receivers as well as a new potential top corner. Three starters from the portal is a rare thing for a team to do and find success, [autotag]Manny Diaz [/autotag]bet on that approach in Miami and he is now on Franklin’s staff. For the group of transfers to enter State College this year, Franklin was asked what his initial thoughts were on them during media availability on Tuesday.

“They’ve bought a real veteran presence,” Franklin said. “Storm [Duck] is a guy that’s got tremendous maturity…He knows how to practice.”

[autotag]Storm Duck[/autotag] was considered one of the top defensive players in the transfer portal and was expected to head to either Oregon or Colorado to further his development. Instead, he chose Penn State to replace [autotag]Joey Porter Jr.[/autotag] and play alongside [autotag]Kalen King[/autotag].

As Franklin notes, he brings a veteran presence to a younger defense led by King and Abdul Carter. In Manny Diaz’s defense, Duck will thrive on the man coverage he likes to play and the aggressiveness he likes to see from his defenders.

Expect big things from Storm Duk in the blue and white this Spring and well into the Fall.

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Penn State spring football preview: Cornerbacks and safeties

There are some key spots to fill in the Penn State secondary this spring.

Penn State is normally known as “Linebacker U,” but recently their secondary players have been making waves at the NFL level.

In recent years, [autotag]Adrian Amos[/autotag], [autotag]Nick Scott[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaquan Brisker[/autotag] have all been featured in prominent roles at the next level. Now, [autotag]Joey Porter Jr.[/autotag] is expected to be the highest Penn State secondary player ever taken in the NFL Draft and [autotag]Ji’Ayir Brown[/autotag] is climbing up draft boards.

The current 2023 roster has a bunch of playmakers as well. This will be an experienced group overall and should have a major impact on the success of Penn State’s defense this season.

The headliner in the group is cornerback [autotag]Kalen King[/autotag]. He was a bit overshadowed by Porter Jr. last season, but it’s now his time to shine. Others in the secondary should become a household name this season as well.

Here are some names to watch as spring practices start.

Kalen King

Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

Measurables: 5’11” / 185 lbs.

Year: Junior

Expected Role: Starting cornerback

Kalen King is a flat out star. While overshadowed by the bigger name of Joey Porter Jr., he put together an elite season last year. His PFF grade of 89.0 was 8th best out of 916 corners.

He is expected to be one of the most impactful players on the defense and might be the best player in the program. He showed how good he was in a primary role during the Rose Bowl. If King continues to play like he did last season, Penn State is in good hands at starting cornerback.

Johnny Dixon

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Measurables: 6’0″ 190 lbs.

Year: Redshirt Senior

Expected Role: Starting cornerback

[autotag]Johnny Dixon[/autotag] will have some big shoes to fill this season. The former South Carolina transfer is expected to win the starting role during the spring and summer to play opposite of King.

In the two season he’s been at Penn State, Dixon improved his PFF grade by 10 points. He ranked 260th out of 916 corners in 2022-23, recording 23 total tackles, 10 passes defended and two interceptions. There is potential that this could be a position battle to watch in the spring and summer as James Franklin brought in a transfer cornerback from North Carolina.

NEXT: The expected starters at safety

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5 new faces to watch during Penn State spring football practices

Penn State’s spring football practices will begin soon. Here are five newcomers you should get to know.

Penn State coach James Franklin hasn’t always utilized the transfer portal the way most coaches do but that has changed and now we see more impact players coming in for the program.

He has always recruited well for the Nittany Lions and has had a great staff that attracts players to come in. This offseason he was able to attract several significant transfer players to pair with a strong 2023 recruiting class for the team.

Get to know just some of the new faces on campus that could be making plays in the Fall inside Beaver Stadium.