The Latest On Potential Transfer Ryan Nowicki from Penn State

Ryan Nowicki is one of the first players from Penn State to openly be looking to transfer. His eye is on Illinois, Washington, and Arizona State as potential landing spots.

His decision to transfer comes as no surprise to Tim Tolley who writes for Victory Bell Rings, our Penn State affiliate on Fansided.com. He said, “Nowicki is one of the kids that it makes perfect sense for his eligibility as it would mean ZERO bowls, plus he’s not on the 2-deep depth chart”

Nowicki is a player that was sort of a head scratcher when he committed to Penn State out of High School, as he is from Cactus High School in Glendale, Arizona and most of his scholarship offers came by way of the West Coast schools.

He held offers from 11 different schools according to Scout.com but only decided to visit three; Penn State, Washington, and USC. Both Scout and Rivals had him rated as a 3-star lineman out of High School.

Nowicki spent his first year as a Nittany Lion red-shirting, this gives him the ability to have 4-years left of eligibility and per the NCAA sanctions he can play right away if he transfers. Illinois came at him the strongest sending eight coaches to State College in order to recruit him, along with other players. But Washington and Arizona State were also able to line up visits.

While the Fighting Illini seem to be the favorites and many are reporting it is close to a done-deal that he will transfer to Illinois. He is visiting Washington this weekend and Arizona State on Monday. Thus, the decision isn’t completely shored up.

Nowicki would be an instant boost to a depleted depth at offensive line. He was highly rated out of High School and spent a year as a red-shirt getting stronger and learning the college game. He most likely wouldn’t come in as an immediate starter but he would be a guy that Coach Sark would rotate in and by next year could find himself in a starter position.