NC State Linebacker Kamal Bonner is Entering the Transfer Portal

NC State Linebacker Kamal Bonner is entering the Transfer Portal.

NC State starting linebacker Kamal Bonner plans to enter the transfer portal, his agents @david_benzaken and @IanGrutman of @GSEworldwide tell @chris_hummer and me.

Posted 56 tackles as a redshirt freshman at NC State last season.https://t.co/10Sz3YxlzO pic.twitter.com/f7ec8x0T5w

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) April 21, 2025

Through the first 6 games this past Fall, Bonner was the 2nd string WILL Linebacker, backing up Redshirt Senior Devon Betty, averaging 10 snaps per game.

When Redshirt Junior Caden Fordham’s season ended due to an injury in Week 6, Betty moved back to MIKE Linebacker, and Bonner moved into the starting role at WILL Linebacker. Bonner started the final 7 games of the season.

As a Redshirt Freshman, Bonner had 56 tackles, 7 tackles for loss and 1 sack this year. His PFF grade was 60.2.

While Bonner ended the year as a starter, it is expected that Fordham will return to a starting role in 2025. Redshirt Senior Linebacker Sean Brown will also serve as one of the other starting Linebackers. There’s been a lot of buzz around Senior Temple Transfer Tra Thomas, who is reuniting with Defensive Coordinator DJ Eliot, and I expect him to start at an EDGE Linebacker role.

Bonner is 1 of 21 NC State players to enter the Transfer Portal this year. 16 of 21 have found a new home.

LB Kamal Bonner
WR Dacari Collins – Louisville
OL Obadiah Obasuyi – Georgia State
S Devan Boykin – Indiana
S Bishop Fitzgerald – USC
CB Brandon Cisse – South Carolina
Nickel Tamarcus Cooley – LSU
OL Robby Martin – West Virginia
LB Wyatt Wright – Arkansas St.
TE Juice Vereen – UCONN
WR KC Concepcion – Texas A&M
WR Jakolbe Baldwin – Marshall
LB Cannon Lewis – Marshall
DT DJ Jackson – Liberty
LB Jayland Parker – Marshall
DE Red Hibbler – Mississippi St.
OL Sean Hill – Tulsa
RB Jordan Poole
WR Jalen Coit
OL Patrick Matan
RB Kendrick Raphael