The question marks that surrounded Penn State’s linebacker group at the end of spring practice have settled. Amare Campbell, who announced his transfer to the Nittany Lions on Tuesday after two seasons at North Carolina, became the answer to James Franklin’s thinning depth at one of his program’s most historically dominant positions.
Campbell should become a plug-and-play option for Jim Knowles in his first year as Penn State’s defensive coordinator. Regarded as one of the nation’s top available transfers, Campbell further boosts the national championship expectations surrounding the Nittany Lions ahead of next season. With him on board, the team’s linebacker room looks just about complete.
Tony Rojas and Dominic DeLuca are set to return to the starting lineup, whether Knowles bases out of a 4-2-5 defense or not. Franklin’s concern following Penn State’s spring game on April 26 revolved around depth, particularly in finding an experienced linebacker capable of immediately playing an extensive role alongside his known commodities.
The 6-foot, 230-pound Campbell, who registered a career-high 76 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks this past season, is a perfect fit for that role. He has two years of eligibility remaining, and has established an upwards trajectory in terms of production. It should also help that there’s already chemistry between Campbell and Rojas, two Virginia natives.
Rojas is an exciting asset after his first year as a starter last season, but missed all of spring practice with an arm injury. DaKaari Nelson, who moved to linebacker from safety last offseason, was also absent throughout the spring. The depth thinned even further once regular contributor Ta’Mere Robinson transferred to USC in April.
Robinson’s exit wasn’t expected, and the injuries to Rojas and Nelson left DeLuca leading a linebacker room that boasted just six scholarship players by spring’s end. Adding another linebacker was a necessity for a team hoping to reach the top of the mountain in 2025 after a promising run to the College Football Playoff semifinals in January.
Campbell all but completes the Nittany Lions’ set of starting-caliber linebackers, and helps define a depth chart that features some intriguing playmakers.
Anthony Speca and Keon Wylie were both competing alongside Robinson to fill the void at middle linebacker left by Kobe King, who was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of April’s NFL draft. Campbell is now the most likely candidate to earn primary middle linebacker duties, but Speca and Wylie should both have prominent roles despite their question marks.
Penn State’s coaching staff spoke highly of Speca over the course of his true freshman season, when he made eight tackles across six games. He has less inexperience than most of his peers, but that’s not expected to hold him back. Wylie, on the other hand, will look to return to prominence after missing last season’s entirety with an injury. He had 17 tackles and three sacks in 2023.
There should be concern over Wylie’s health, given that he hasn’t played in a game in nearly two years. Kari Jackson — who could also fit into the two-deep alongside Speca, Wylie and Nelson — has also been held back by injuries. A redshirt freshman, Jackson hasn’t played since his junior year of high school in 2022.
Those four are the most likely candidates for the two-deep at linebacker.
Behind them are a trio of freshmen, a pair of whom have been with the program since January. LaVar Arrington II and Alex Tatsch were each four-star prospects in the Nittany Lions’ 2025 recruiting class. It’s possible they work their way up the depth chart, but for now, it’s unclear exactly where they stand. The same can be said and more for Cam Smith, who is set to join the team this summer.
The addition of Campbell isn’t only significant for this season. With just two years of college under his belt, he’s a piece Franklin and Knowles can build upon moving forward. DeLuca will exhaust his eligibility after this season while Rojas becomes eligible for the draft. Campbell could become the integral linebacker of the Nittany Lions’ defense in 2026.
