Transfer Notebook: Nick Marsh to Indiana, Abu Sama III to Wisconsin

This article has been updated as of May 13, 2026 to remove outdated assumptions about Julian Fleming, Tyler Warren, and Penn State’s 2026 offensive personnel. The transfer misses were real, but the old receiver-room analysis no longer matched the verified roster.

Marsh to the Hoosiers

Former Michigan State wide receiver Nick Marsh committed to Indiana during the January transfer window. Multiple portal reports connected Penn State to Marsh during the process, but the final destination was Indiana.

For Penn State, the miss mattered because the receiver room needed proven outside production. The more accurate conclusion is not that Marsh alone would have solved the position. It is that Penn State had to keep building the room through a mix of transfers, returning players, and spring evaluation.

Sama to the Badgers

Former Iowa State running back Abu Sama III committed to Wisconsin rather than following the Matt Campbell pipeline to Penn State. That was notable because several Iowa State-connected players did land in State College, including quarterback Rocco Becht and running back Carson Hansen.

Sama’s decision also needs to be placed in the correct Penn State backfield context. Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen are no longer current Penn State players; both entered the 2026 NFL Draft, with Singleton going to the Tennessee Titans and Allen to the Washington Commanders. Penn State’s 2026 backfield is therefore a rebuilt room, not a returning star pairing.

What Penn State Did Add

Penn State did not come away empty. The roster reset included Becht at quarterback, Chase Sowell at receiver, James Peoples at running back, Carson Hansen at running back, and several other transfers who changed the offensive competition.

That matters because the correct transfer-portal grade is not based only on missed names. Marsh and Sama were meaningful losses from the target board, but Penn State still added players who are central to the 2026 depth-chart conversation.

Corrected Receiver-Room Takeaway

The old version of this article speculated about Julian Fleming returning and Tyler Warren helping the 2026 passing game. Both assumptions were outdated. Fleming’s Penn State career ended after 2024, and Warren was already an Indianapolis Colts first-round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft.

The current receiver-room discussion should focus on active Penn State players and verified transfers. Chase Sowell’s Iowa State connection with Becht is relevant. Keith Jones Jr.’s Grambling production is relevant. Returning Penn State receivers and younger players are relevant. Fleming and Warren are not 2026 Penn State solutions.

Current Context

This page should remain a transfer-window context note, not a recruiting panic piece. Marsh and Sama chose other Big Ten programs, which mattered because both were plausible roster fits. But current Penn State analysis should pair those misses with verified additions and avoid pretending the portal board had only two names.

The clean takeaway is that Penn State missed on Marsh and Sama while still rebuilding around Becht, Sowell, Peoples, Hansen, and other additions. That is a more accurate picture of the January reset.