Football Portal Watch: Big Ten players to monitor as potential transfers

[Richie O]

Portal Watch: Big Ten players to monitor as potential transfers

Freshman Air Noland might be the odd man out in a stacked Ohio State quarterback room.

pennstate.rivals.com

Signing Birchmeier in the 2023 class was a major win for head coach James Franklin and the Penn State staff. He was one of the most heavily recruited prospects in that recruiting class and finished the rankings cycle at No. 40 in the Rivals250.

Since then, Birchmeier has played a total of 16 snaps in his college career and doesn’t seem to be within shouting distance of playing this season. He used his redshirt during the 2023 season and is using one of his four years of eligibility riding the bench this year while Cooper Cousins, J’ven Williams and Dominic Rulli seemingly pass him on the depth chart.

A four-star in the 2022 recruiting class, Cross looked like the next man up in a long line of impressive tight ends at Penn State. Instead, the Wisconsin native has been overshadowed by the likes of Tyler Warren, Theo Johnson, Brenton Strange, Khalil Dinkins and Luke Reynolds.

Cross has the talent to contribute but it’s hard to find playing time when competing with a tight end group like the one Penn State has assembled. He’s played just 24 snaps in his career with the Nittany Lions.

 

[lazydave841]

If I had to pick, couldn't disagree with these choices.

 

[JWB389]

Pure gut feeling, but I bet we lose a quarterback.

I can understand a TE leaving, but there’s still time for Birchmeier, no?

 

[bdgan]

Portal Watch: Big Ten players to monitor as potential transfers

Freshman Air Noland might be the odd man out in a stacked Ohio State quarterback room.

pennstate.rivals.com

View embedded media

Signing Birchmeier in the 2023 class was a major win for head coach James Franklin and the Penn State staff. He was one of the most heavily recruited prospects in that recruiting class and finished the rankings cycle at No. 40 in the Rivals250.

Since then, Birchmeier has played a total of 16 snaps in his college career and doesn’t seem to be within shouting distance of playing this season. He used his redshirt during the 2023 season and is using one of his four years of eligibility riding the bench this year while Cooper Cousins, J’ven Williams and Dominic Rulli seemingly pass him on the depth chart.

View embedded media

A four-star in the 2022 recruiting class, Cross looked like the next man up in a long line of impressive tight ends at Penn State. Instead, the Wisconsin native has been overshadowed by the likes of Tyler Warren, Theo Johnson, Brenton Strange, Khalil Dinkins and Luke Reynolds.

Cross has the talent to contribute but it’s hard to find playing time when competing with a tight end group like the one Penn State has assembled. He’s played just 24 snaps in his career with the Nittany Lions.

Dawkins, Nelson, and Wormley are gone so it seems like there is room to move up next year unless all the other freshmen have passed him.

 

[GregInPitt]

Pure gut feeling, but I bet we lose a quarterback.

I can understand a TE leaving, but there’s still time for Birchmeier, no?

Seems like plenty of time. But all the true freshmen seemed to have already passed him up and he'll be battling with those players and next Fall's freshmen for a backup role in 2025. In his 3rd season he'll be behind Cousins, Loane and it seems Onoh inside going into 2025, with Harbor coming back for his 2nd year and Goodman likely competing to play as a true freshman. Williams may be moved to Guard for 2025 with all the returning and incoming OT's.

So if Birhmeier really wants to start in his 3rd season that would be much easier and realistic somewhere else. Hope he stays but he'll need to make a major move this off season to see much of the field in 2025.