Penn State football redshirt-freshman defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam is entering the transfer portal, according to a report from On3’s Hayes Fawcett.

Gilliam appeared in all 12 of Penn State’s regular-season games, recording 11 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. The 6’2″, 300-pounder also played in four games during the Nittany Lions’ 2024 season, but ended up using his redshirt for that season.

As a recruit, the Montgomery Village, Maryland, native was ranked as the No. 26 player in the state, No. 82 defensive lineman, and No. 745 player nationally, per 247Sports composite rankings. The former three-star impressed in his short time in Happy Valley.

James Franklin said he was fighting for a starting job heading into the 2025 season and was making the transition from defensive end to tackle very smoothly.

Gilliam is the 14th Nittany Lion to reportedly enter the transfer portal.

If Gilliam departs, he leaves a defensive line room consisting of other young, talented prospects, including Max Granville and Randy Adirika.

About the Author

Collin Ward

Collin is a fourth-year majoring in digital/print journalism. He lives in Basking Ridge, New Jersey and enjoys TAYLOR HAM, egg, and cheese. As a New York Giants and Chelsea FC fan you can normally find him yelling at his TV screen on the weekends. Please follow him on X(formerly Twitter) @wardcollinz for Penn State football stuff. You can email him at collin@onwardstate.com.

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