Penn State picks up transfer portal commitment from former Troy receiver Devonte Ross

Penn State is adding another wide receiver to its 2025 roster via the transfer portal. The latest addition comes from the Group of Five. Former Troy Recipient Devonte Ross picked the Lions on Tuesday. He joins the former USC Recipient Kyron Hudson and unique Texas A&M defensive end Enai White previously in the Penn State portal class.

Ross caught 76 passes for 1,043 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024 while playing for former Nittany Lions wide receivers coach and current Trojans head coach Straight Parker. He visited the portal earlier this month and was in State College on Dec. 18 for an official visit.

Ross, listed by Troy at 5-foot-11 and weighing 161 pounds, initially committed to Marshall in the 2021 class but then backed out of that commitment and was set to go to Kentucky. However, he never arrived on campus in Lexington. He then landed at Troy in 2022. Over three years, he completed 129 passes for 1,618 yards and 14 touchdowns. A native of Cartersville, Georgia, Ross has two years to play a season as he still has a redshirt year available. However, he is unlikely to use it, which could make 2025 his final college season. On3 currently ranks him as the No. 158 player in the portal and the No. 33 receiver.

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What does Penn State get in Ross?

Speed ​​is the key to this receiver. BWI film analyst Thomas Frank Carr provided an initial scouting report on Ross when he first entered the transfer portal.

“His best attributes are deep routes and explosive plays,” Carr writes. “He gained 400 yards and five touchdowns on passes of 20 or more yards last year and had four games in which he reached 100 yards. His best statistical performance of the season came against Florida A&M, where he caught 11 passes for 234 yards.

“At his best, Ross is the type of player who can run behind any cover. He competed primarily outdoors for Troy and has experience running routes from the slot. From a fit perspective, he would compliment Omari Evans on what he brings to the offense. The duo would provide a deadly combination of high speed that would be difficult to defend and would likely create open space underneath.”

You can read the full film breakdown here.