Former Texas A&M offensive lineman TJ Shanahan has announced his commitment to Penn State through the NCAA Transfer Portal, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett. Shanahan spent two seasons with the Aggies before making the move.
Shanahan appeared in 10 games for Texas A&M this season, starting five of them. The 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman might have earned additional starts if not for an injury that kept him out for two weeks.
During his true freshman season in 2023, Shanahan appeared in three games before redshirting. He now has three years of eligibility remaining.
TJ Shanahan, a former four-star recruit, played high school football at Westlake (FL). Ranked No. 170 overall and No. 11 among interior offensive linemen in the 2023 recruiting class, his rating was determined by the On3 Industry Ranking, which incorporates a weighted average of evaluations from all four major recruiting media outlets.
Missouri also pursued Shanahan during his time in the transfer portal. According to On3’s 2025 Transfer Portal Player Rankings, Shanahan was ranked as the No. 37 interior offensive lineman to enter the portal this offseason.
Shanahan becomes the fourth player Penn State has acquired through the transfer portal this offseason. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions have seen five players depart via the portal, placing them at No. 37 in On3’s 2025 Team Transfer Portal Rankings.
Shanahan’s addition will further bolster Penn State’s already formidable offensive line, which allowed just 1.25 sacks per game this season, ranking 23rd nationally. However, the Nittany Lions remain unsatisfied heading into the offseason, having narrowly missed out on a national championship appearance.
After a defeat to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals on Thursday, Penn State concluded its season with a 13-3 record. The Nittany Lions’ only other losses came against Oregon and Ohio State.
Now, Penn State head coach James Franklin will focus on making the necessary offseason adjustments to position his program for another national title push in 2025. However, he won’t be the only one making such preparations.
