The 11th Hour Addition of the Former Florida State Defender Marks a Break From the Norm Compared To Penn State’s Previous Portal Pickups
All it took was six months for James Franklin to experience his first Mid-Portal Crisis.
That’s not to say awarding the 84th penultimate scholarship to dismissed Florida State defensive back A.J. Lytton is the equivalent of a purchasing a motorcycle, or a pair of skinny jeans, or an 96-month-financed Corvette, or anything else super desperate or cringey, but it does raise a few eyebrows because the move really clashes with Franklin’s earlier Transfer Portal rescues.
Harvard OL Eric Wilson. Baylor RB John Lovett. Duke DT Derrick Tangelo. South Carolina DB John(ny) Dixon. Temple DE Arnold Ebiketie. What do all those guys have in common? Well, for the most part, each of them were either middle-of-the-road or under-the-radar recruits out of high school who shone brighter than their Rivals/247 stars once they reached college. For various reasons – coaching changes, the want to play on a bigger stage – all 5 portal players relocated to Penn State as established, high floor, high character, plug-and-play options to start Week 1 or see substantial snaps at positions of need.
