Penn State football defensive lineman Smith Vilbert will enter the transfer portal, per Pete Nakos of On3. The graduate senior will have one year of eligbility remaining.

Vilbert committed to Penn State as a three-star recruit as part of the recruiting class of 2019, ranked No. 618 in the nation according to 247Sports’ Composite, as well as the No. 14 player in New Jersey.

Vilbert redshirted the 2019 season and worked his way into the defensive line rotation at the end of the 2021 season, where he shined with a three-sack performance at the Outback Bowl against Arkansas.

When he was due to break out as a starter, Vilbert missed all but one game in 2022 and sustained a season-ending injury before the 2023 season began. In a healthy redshirt senior season in 2024, Vilbert registered 1.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, and a career-high 12 tackles in 16 games. He was granted a seventh year of eligibility and previously announced his return to Penn State in January.

He finishes his Penn State career with 20 tackles, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and eight tackles for loss in 35 games.

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Michael Zeno

Michael is a junior from Eastampton, NJ, majoring in international politics. He's a diehard Knicks, Yankees, Rangers, and Giants fan. When he's not watching old OBJ highlights, he likes to bowl and play pickup basketball. He'll forever believe that Michael Penix Jr. was short. You can contact him at @MichaelZeno24 on Twitter or [email protected]

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