After the incredible season it was, I decided to take a look at how the guys that transferred did in 2012 and graded them based on their decision. PSU finished the season 8-4, a (.667) win percentage. The aggregate record of the 10 teams that received Penn State transfers is 65-40, a (.598) win percentage.
Rob Bolden, JR, QB: Left for LSU
Bolden transferred to LSU as a change in scenery was clearly needed. Bolden did not play a single snap for the Tigers and to be frank, PSU did not miss him one bit. Bolden never would have played in O’Bie’s offense and will probably never play at LSU. In my opinion, he would have been better off going to a smaller school like Delaware where he would be a stud.
GRADE: C+
Tim Buckley, RS FR, FS: Left for NC State
A walk-on at Penn State left for N.C. State to be closer to his home in Raleigh. Buckley Redshirted his freshman year and will has four years of eligibility remaining.
GRADE: TBD
Ryan Nowicki, RS FR, OT: Left for Illinois
Can’t help but laugh at Ryan. Ryan was the one guy that decided to leave PSU after Illinois head coach Tim Beckman sent 8 coaches to camp in Happy Valley. PSU got their revenge in the 35-7 beat down. Nowicki did not play one snap in 2012 and the Illini had a 2-10 season, along with a 0-8 B1G conference record.
GRADE: D
Anthony Fera, JR, K/P: Left for Texas
Losing Fera was a big loss in the beginning of the season. Fera was an All-B1G kicker in 2011 and was the punter as well. The main reason he decided to leave Happy Valley for the University of Texas was to be closer to his mother, who was very sick. In that case you can’t fault him for leaving. From strictly a football aspect, Fera accounted for 29 points on the season, while his replacement Sam Ficken accounted for 81 points.
*Fera missed the first 4 games due to a groin injury.
GRADE: B+
**Silas Redd after the jump**
Kevin Haplea, JR, TE: Left for Florida State
I have one question… If your position is TE, why would you EVER not want to play for PSU. Penn State’s Tight Ends hauled in a total of 83 catches, 1,097 yards, and 10 touchdowns. Haplea finished the regular season with a whopping 3 catches for 15 yards and did not record a single catch in the final 7 games.
GRADE: F
Derrick Thomas, RS JR, CB: Left for Marshall
Thomas transferred to Marshall and had a pretty good season. He played in every game and recorded 1 INT on the year. The Thundering Herd finished the season 5-7. Not sure how he would have faired if he stayed. My guess is he would have got some decent playing time.
We Are.. Penn State > We Are.. Marshall
GRADE: B
Khairi Fortt, JR, LB: Left for California
Fortt was listed as the Co-starting MLB in spring practice for PSU but ended up transferring after the sanctions. Not exactly sure what his reason for but it seems like he had some serious talent and was destined to be THE next LB at LinebackerU. Fortt ended up injuring his knee and did not play in 2012.
GRADE: TBD
Jamil Pollard, FR, DT: Left for Rutgers
Pollard was the only class of 2012 guy to bolt. He was a 4 star recruit by rivals coming out of high school and left for Rutgers following the sanctions. He did not play a single snap in 2012 and the verdict is still out on whether or not he made the correct decision.
GRADE: TBD
Justin Brown, JR, WR: Left for Oklahoma
Brown was considered one of the more devastating losses for PSU but with the emergence of Allen Robinson, he was an afterthought. Brown has quietly had a good season for the 9-2 Sooners. He has 62 catches, 795 yards, and 4 TDs. With him having a quality season and the 9-2 record would have to be considered one of the only successful transfers thus far.
GRADE: A-
Silas Redd, JR, RB: Left for USC
Finally our boy. Mr. Business Decision. USC the preseason #1 team in the country finished 7-5 in an extremely disappointing season. Redd rushed 150 times for 817 yards and 9 TDs. Zach Zwinak who didn’t start playing until the third game of the season finished the season with 203 carries, 1,000 yards, and 6 TDs. I can’t imagine that Redd can look back on this and say, “That was a good decision to transfer.” He left all of his teammates and his best friends behind to go across the country to a team that went 7-5.
If Redd had stayed, he would have been loved. Maybe even more than Michael Mauti. He would have been a hero and a legend forever at Penn State. Anytime this 2012 class comes back to Penn State they are going to be treated like rockstars and they should be. Ten or fifteen years from now no one at USC will even know who Silas Redd is.
GRADE: D
With all of that said, I wouldn’t have wanted the things that played out with the transfers to happen any other way. It played into the amazing story of overcoming anything that came at this team in 2012. Couldn’t have been a better storybook ending.
Ps. Business Decisions
