Penn State added its fifth off-season commitment to the NCAA Transfer Portal. Former offensive Harvard striker Eric Wilson announced on Wednesday morning that he would continue his career with Nittany Lions. Wilson will join the program after receiving his Harvard degree at the end of the spring semester.
The 1.8m tall, 91kg offensive striker was a second-team All-Ivy League selection in 2019 and was a pre-season FCS All-American in 2020 before the season was canceled. He was also a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which “recognizes an individual as the best academic football athlete in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. “
Wilson had already committed to playing at Auburn before the Tigers went through a change of coach in the off-season. LSU and others were also involved. He was recruited to Nittany Lions by an offensive lineman Phil Trautwein and has been in regular communication with James Franklin too.
“The connection I have built with Coach Trautwein, Coach Franklin and the rest of the team is something I am extremely excited to continue for the next year, ”said Wilson of his decision. “All their backgrounds speak for themselves in terms of developing players to be ready for the next level. Last weekend, I drove and saw a stadium suitable for 110,000 people and a great campus. I grew up as a big ten football fan and can’t wait to be part of a show like Penn State. “
Wilson and his mother stopped in Happy Valley over the weekend, on the way back from their Minnesota home to Harvard.
“It’s different from Boston, but the weather felt natural. That’s what I’m used to,” he told Brian Dohn of 247Sports at State College. “I really liked the scenery driving through the mountains and things like that. I’m about 25 minutes west of Minneapolis, and 25 minutes west of Minneapolis, there’s a farm right next to us.”
Penn State has some moving parts inside the offensive line coming out of a 4-5 season in 2020. Center Michal Menet and Will Fries, who started the last part of the season on the right guard, both moved on through the main seasons. Right guard CJ Thorpe, who started three games on the right guard, entered the Transfer Portal earlier this month with the hope of playing defensive tackle at his next school. Left guard Mike Miranda he must slide to the center to replace Menet, leaving the two waves of guard. Redshirt juniors Des Holmes and Anthony Whigansecond year red shirt Juice Scruggs and others must compete with Wilson for those places. Lions of Nittany will return initial tackles Rasheed Walker and Caedan Wallace of the line that started the final games for Nittany Lions in 2020.
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