Penn State picks up portal pledge from Utah defensive tackle transfer Dallas Vakalahi

Penn State is going back to the Big 12 for another transfer portal pickup. However, this new Nittany Lion is not following new head coach Matt Campbell from Iowa State. Former Utah defensive tackle Dallas Vakalahi, who stands 6-foot-2, 318 pounds, will play for Penn State in 2026, On3’s Pete Nakos and Hawyes Fawcett report.

A former Rivals Industry Rankings three-star recruit in the Class of 2024, Vakalahi will have two seasons of eligibility remaining in State College. The Salt Lake City native started three contests and played in nine games during his freshman season with the Utes. He tallied 16 total tackles (2.5 for loss and two sacks) in addition to making five third-down stops, per his school bio. In 2025, Vakalahi started two games, played in nine total, and made nine tackles over 220 snaps, which was third among Utah defensive tackles, per PFF.

Vakalahi is the sixth non-former-Iowa State player to commit to Penn State out of the portal and the 26th overall. You can see the full list below:

Non-Iowa State transfers

DT Keanu Williams – UCLA
DE Alexander McPherson – Colorado
DE Armstrong Nnodim – Oklahoma State
RB James Peoples – Ohio State
OL Hunter Albright – St. Francis (PA)
DL Dallas Vakalahi – Utah

Iowa State transfers

QB Rocco Becht
QB Alex Manske

RB Carson Hansen

WR Brett Eskildsen
WR Karon Brookins
Wide receiver Chance Sowell
WR Zay Robinson

TE Gabe Burkle
TE Ben Brahmer

OL Will Tompkins
OT Kuol Kuol
OL Trevor Buhr
OL Vaea Ikakoula

DL Alijah Carnell

LB Cael Brezina
Linebacker Caleb Bacon
LB Kooper Ebel

DB Hunter Sowell

S Jamison Patton
S Marcus Neal Jr.

Follow the next steps in remaking the Penn State football program with Blue-White Illustrated

Campbell is now at Penn State. What will happen next? We’re tracking it all, from staff changes to transfer portal news, recruiting, and more! Not a subscriber? Join today by clicking here. A BWI subscription gets you access to:

–Premium insight and intel from Sean Fitz, Nate Bauer, Ryan Snyder, Thomas Frank Carr, and Greg Pickel

—Access to the subscriber-exclusive Lions Den message board.

–Reporting from the On3 national college football team. It includes Pete Nakos, Ari Wasserman, Andy Staples, Chris Low, Brett McMurphy, and more!

–Dedicated recruiting coverage from the likes of Steve Wiltfong, Chad Simmons, Adam Gorney, Sam Spiegelman, Greg Smith, and the rest of the Rivals team.

And a whole lot more. Sign up today by clicking here to see our best available offer.