Latest news with #SmithVilbert
USA Today
20-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Penn State defensive lineman commits to Bill Belichick and North Carolina
Former Penn State defensive lineman commits to Bill Belichick and North Carolina Former Penn State defensive lineman Smith Vilbert has confirmed where he will head out of the NCAA transfer portal. Former Penn State defensive end Smith Vilbert has found his new home for his final year of college football eligibility. Vilbert announced on social media he has committed to play for North Carolina. "I've met some great individuals that I can honestly call my brothers, ad some great coaches," Vilbert said in a post on his social media account on Wednesday. "I am glad I can officially say I am a PSU graduate/alumni, thank you!" Vilbert will play his seventh and final year of college football for one of the most successful coaches in football history, Bil Belichick. The Super Bowl champion head coach is entering his first season as head coach of the Tar Heels. Vilbert picked up an extra year of free eligibility from the NCAA for the 2020 season impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. He redshirted his first season on campus in 2019 and was granted a medical redshirt for losing the 2023 season. Vilbert recorded 12 tackles and 4 TFL with 2 forced fumbles and 1.5 sacks this past season while playing as a second option on the line behind Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton. With Carter moving to the NFL, Vilbert could have become a top candidate to lock down a more prominent role on the defensive line in 2025 beginning this spring. But now, he will likely pursue an opportunity with a new program. Follow Kevin McGuire on Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and Threads.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Veteran Penn State defensive lineman entering transfer portal
It looked as though Penn State defensive lineman Smith Vilbert was going to return to the Nittany Lions for an extremely rare seventh season of eligibility. But now, it is expected Vilbert will spend that seventh season of collegiate eligibility elsewhere. According to a report from On3 reporter Pete Nakos, via social media, Vilbert has entered the NCAA transfer portal, which is the first step in pursuing a new college football home for any player. By entering the transfer portal, Vilbert, who will be a grad transfer, is free to make contact with any college football program interested in adding him to a roster this season. Vilbert picked up an extra year of free eligibility from the NCAA for the 2020 season impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. He redshirted his first season on campus in 2019 and was granted a medical redshirt for losing the 2023 season. Vilbert recorded 12 tackles and 4 TFL with 2 forced fumbles and 1.5 sacks this past season while playing as a second option on the line behind Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton. With Carter moving to the NFL, Vilbert could have become a top candidate to lock down a more prominent role on the defensive line in 2025 beginning this spring. But now, he will likely pursue an opportunity with a new program. Vilbert can still stay with Penn State by taking his name out of the NCAA transfer portal database, although players entering their names in the portal do end up leaving their current position far more often than not. Follow Kevin McGuire on Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and Threads. This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State defensive lineman Smith Vilbert to enter transfer portal
