Duke DT Derrick Tangelo Announces Transfer to Penn State

Another day, another transfer portal gift for Penn State. This time, it’s Duke defensive tackle Derrick Tangelo.

The 6-foot-2, 310-pound Tangelo has started 28 games for the Blue Devils over the last three seasons — 11 starts in 2018, five starts in 2019, and 11 starts in 2020. You can see his stats, courtesy of Sports-Reference, below.

Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but Tangelo was largely a run-stuffing defensive tackle who will play a similar role here as a 1-Tech defensive tackle; a la Antonio Shelton.

It remains to be seen if Tangelo will be a starter at Penn State, but that will likely depend upon just how much redshirt sophomore Hakeem Beamon progresses. Beamon would give Penn State a legitimately pass-rushing 3-Tech which would allow the Nittany Lions to move PJ Mustipher to his more natural 1-Tech spot. If that happens, the depth chart would likely break down like this:

1T: PJ Mustipher (SR) — Derrick Tangelo (RS SR) — Fred Hansard (RS SR)
3T: Hakeem Beamon (RS SO) — D’Von Ellies (RS SO) — Coziah Izzard (RS FR)

Welcome to Penn State, Derrick!