The spring transfer portal is officially open, just ahead of Penn State’s Blue-White Game. While some players have already declared or committed, nothing is official until April 16. Here, Penn State head coach James Franklin voiced a big concern, saying most coaches prefer a single transfer window. And he warned of the risk of losing up to 50 players in spring. 50 players! Read that again. Chaos would take the upper hand if that happens, leaving teams devastated. And following the warning, coaches can already feel the heat.

However, Penn State is all-in on a 2026 title run. After a heartbreaking CFP semifinal exit, James Franklin doubled down—keeping most of his roster intact. But one key piece is still missing. With Tyler Warren off to the NFL, the offense loses its anchor. So, PSU’s OC Andy Kotelnicki now shifts focus to a rebuilt wide receiver corps. And Franklin? He’s hunting for that final spark in the spring portal. But during the hunt for a wide receiver, the program took a hit, losing a top cornerback with full eligibility.

On April 19, On3’s Hayes Fawcett dropped the scoop—Georgia Tech just landed a big fish. Penn State transfer Jon Mitchell is heading south, giving the Yellow Jackets an instant boost in their secondary. It’s a huge win for GT HC Brent Key, snagging a top-tier corner with full eligibility. Even with James Franklin playing it cautiously, Georgia Tech moved fast. And now, Nittany Lions fans are turning up the heat, questioning how this one slipped through the cracks.

And why not? Jon Mitchell may have been a redshirt freshman, but he showed flashes of promise in Happy Valley. He suited up for six games, racked up five tackles, and even earned Special Teams Player of the Game honors against SMU in December. However, his standout moment? Two solid tackles versus Kent State. But, with Penn State stacked at the corner, Mitchell saw a better opportunity. Now, he’s headed south, where Georgia Tech offers a fresh start and a real shot to shine in Coach Key’s secondary.

Mitchell showed promise early in his Penn State journey, but the rise of Kenny Woseley Jr. and Elliot Washington II changed the game. With both young stars climbing the depth chart fast, Mitchell’s path to a starting role in 2025 got crowded. Sometimes, talent needs the right timing, and in this case, the timing just wasn’t on his side. So, he hit the portal, chasing a new opportunity where he could truly break out.

But Penn State fans couldn’t stay silent watching one of their top cornerbacks head to Georgia Tech. Frustration boiled over, and they didn’t hold back, aiming brutal words at James Franklin and the program.

Penn State HC is on the hot seat

With Nehemiah Chandler and Syeed Gibbs gone, Georgia Tech wasted no time securing a key cornerback from PSU to strengthen their defensive lineup. James Franklin, however, has expressed his desire for “no-surprises” until Penn State’s Blue-White Game, but fans know better—expect the unexpected. The first two scholarship defensive players to make their decisions known after the portal opened were LB Ta’Mere Robinson and CB Jon Mitchell. After Mitchell’s departure, one fan fired back, commenting, “What’s going on in Hershey, Pennsylvania? James Franklin has lost complete control of the program.”

Not just Mitchell, but now offensive lineman JB Nelson has entered the portal. A versatile player, Nelson is a reliable plug-and-play lineman who can move across the line without skipping a beat. However, Penn State’s starting O-line was mostly locked in, with only the right guard position up for grabs this spring. Well, sophomore Cooper Cousins stepped up, leaving Nelson searching for a fresh starting opportunity. But the chaos didn’t go unnoticed, and one fan chimed in, saying, “What is happening in Hershey, Pennsylvania?”

It’s a tough pill to swallow for any fan to see a cornerback with full eligibility walk away. It’s not just Mitchell—offensive lineman JB Nelson has reportedly scheduled a visit with Georgia Tech, according to Matt Zenitz of 247Sports. Adding to the sting, former Penn State DT Jordan van den Berg is now a Yellow Jacket. So, the departures are piling up, and fans are feeling the heat. While some overjoyed GT fans commented, “Welcome,” followed by yellow jacket emojis, the frustrated ones bluntly stated, “Hershey is cooked.”

As the portal moves pile up for Penn State, James Franklin is feeling the heat. His decisions seem to be under scrutiny as potential players struggle to find their chance to shine. The latest blow came with the news of Jon Mitchell, a third-string cornerback, transferring to Georgia Tech. Fans are starting to wonder if there’s more going wrong behind the scenes. And one fan commented, “Penn State’s third-string corner transfers,” and reiterated: “What is happening in Hershey, Pennsylvania?” So, the frustration is real, and questions about the program’s direction are growing louder.