With the season winding down, the NCAA Transfer Portal is set to heat up. Penn State's first entry is redshirt sophomore safety Tyler Rudolph.
Rudolph saw only limited action over his three years in Happy Valley, appearing in just 12 games. He totaled seven tackles in those appearances. Six of those came this season over the first four games of the campaign. He has not appeared in a game for the Nittany Lions since the Villanova win.
A four-star prospect out of St. Thomas Moore High School in Connecticut, Rudolph was one of the 18 four-star or higher players to sign with the Nittany Lions in 2019. After redshirting in 2019 with just three appearances, he saw action in five games during the Covid-shortened 2020 season.
With Rudolph not appearing since late-September, converted cornerback Keaton Ellis, and true-freshman Jaylen Reed have emerged in the defensive backfield. That pair, along with Ji-Ayir Brown (should be opt to return), redshirt freshman Enzo Jennings, incoming freshmen KJ Winston and Christian Driver, and Lackawanna transfer Tyrece Mills make up the remainder of the safety depth chart heading into 2022.
