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Ex-Penn State Football WR predicted a Big 12 newcomer through the portal

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After a year with Penn State football, Malik McClain is expected to return to Florida State. On3’s Pete Nakos and Steve Wiltfong made some predictions over the weekend that the native Floridian would return home and spend his senior season at UCF, where he is currently believed to be on campus. McClain entered the transfer portal on May 2, one of three Nittany Leo wide receivers to do so this spring.

Malik McClain predicted he would commit to UCF

After just over a week in the transfer portal, Malik McClain appears to be nearing a decision. On Saturday morning, Pete Nakos and Steve Wiltfong of On3 have made predictions for the former Penn State wide receiver to commit to UCF. Matt Zenitz of 247Sports reports that McClain is currently visiting the Knights.

“The 6-foot-2, 207-pound receiver is a former IMG prospect. With his good running ability and size, he has sometimes made a flashy impression in his career,” Nakos wrote. “A landing at UCF would give Malik McClain a reset on his college career. Losing him to the portal leaves Penn State with one less wide receiver; the Nittany Lions also lost top returning wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith to the portal last month.

Malik McClain officially entered the transfer portal on May 2 after one season with Penn State football, hauling in six catches for 71 yards and a touchdown. Before arriving in Happy Valley, McClain played two seasons at Florida State, where he had 33 receptions for 396 yards and five touchdowns.

Penn State football resets at wide receiver

It’s been a turbulent spring transfer portal for James Franklin and the Nittany Lions at wide receiver. As Nakos noted, Penn State football also lost its leading 2023 receiver, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who committed to Auburn. Malick Meiga also entered the portal, making his promise to Coastal Carolina Thursday. A fourth wideout, Carmelo Taylor, has left the program for unknown reasons.

Penn State will bring in three receivers from the 2024 cycle this summer – Josiah Brown, Tyseer Denmark and Peter Gonzalez. González, a top-10 in-state prospect from Pittsburgh Central Catholicarriving this weekend.

However, James Franklin will be turning to many of the same faces he did last fall in hopes of making an impact. Trey Wallace is expected to play a major role this fall in the battle against injuries for much of 2023. Wallace led all Nittany Lion receivers in the Peach Bowl, as well as the Blue-White Game.

Liam Clifford also looks set to figure prominently in the 2024 rotation. And if there’s a time for Kaden Saunders and Omari Evans to come into their own, it’s now. The Nittany Lions also added Julian Fleming from the transfer portal this winter. Fleming is an absolute added value in the dressing room, but has struggled with injuries throughout his career.

“I love our wide receivers. They have a lot of talent in the room,” Franklin said after the Blue and White match. “I think they have been given the opportunity to take the next step. I believe they are going to take the next step. I think (receivers coach) Marques (Hagans) has done a really good job this spring. This summer will be very important. The positive is that in college football you can improve in the passing game in the summer. We’re going to do those things. We believe in them.”

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