Meet Penn State football’s 2024 recruiting class: Check out commits’ film, bios & more

Penn State added 25 players to its football program Wednesday when the early signing period began and the team’s commitments put pen to paper.

The Nittany Lions have the No. 15 class in the country and the No. 3 class among teams that will be in the Big Ten next season — behind only Ohio State and Oregon — according to the On3 Industry Rankings.

Here’s what you need to know about all 25 signees that became Nittany Lions.

TE Luke Reynolds, 4 stars

Height/weight: 6-4/220

School: Cheshire Academy (Cheshire, Conn.)

Synopsis: Reynolds is the top-ranked player in the class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, and is even ranked as a five-star recruit by 247Sports. He chose the Nittany Lions when he was rated as a three-star recruit but rose up the rankings as his senior season played out.

However, his early impact on the program could be limited because he’s playing a position the team has plenty of young talent at already. Couple that with the fact that — like most high school tight ends — he’s known more for his receiving than his blocking, and you get the right mix for a very talented player either redshirting or getting limited snaps as a freshman. Regardless, the talent is there for him to be an all-conference level player down the road.

ATH Quinton Martin, 4 stars

Height/weight: 6-1.5/190

School: Belle Vernon (Belle Vernon, Pa.)

Synopsis: Martin is listed as an athlete but it seems clear that he will be playing running back at the next level and will do so with the Nittany Lions after choosing them over the likes of Florida State and Ohio State.

Despite coming in at a position with elite top-end talent in Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, Martin could see the field early. That could happen on special teams or as the team’s third running back if he can make a quick ascent up the depth chart. He’s that talented of a running back and will give running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider another high-end option out of the backfield.

QB Ethan Grunkemeyer, 4 stars

Height/weight: 6-2/190

School: Olentangy (Lewis Center, Ohio)

Synopsis: Grunkemeyer will enroll at Penn State in January and get a head start on his college career of ascending quickly in the rankings. He was a three-star recruit when he committed to the Nittany Lions but rose up to become a four-star. Grunkemeyer shares the same quarterback trainer with Drew Allar in Brad Maendler, which should help him assimilate into the quarterback room quickly.

It would be a surprise if he didn’t redshirt as a freshman, but there’s a chance that he’s the next signal caller for Penn State when Allar departs for the next level. In the meantime, he’ll continue on the same path he’s on now, while adding more consistency to his game.

DL Liam Andrews, 4 stars

Height/weight: 6-4.5/275

School: Dexter School (Brook Line, Mass.)

Synopsis: Andrews isn’t the highest-rated player in the class but he might be the most important. The four-star defensive tackle chose Penn State over Florida and Ohio State, among others, and fills a need at a spot where the Nittany Lions haven’t always recruited highly-rated players.

They’ve struggled to add top-150 talents at defensive tackle, but Andrews is just that at No. 116 in the On3 Industry ranking. It will surely take time for him to add the requisite weight to play in the Big Ten, but Andrews is closer than most at 275 pounds. He is likely to redshirt as a freshman but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he was able to make an impact in his second year on campus.

CB Jon Mitchell, 4 stars

Height/weight: 5-11.5/175

School: Mandarin (Jacksonville, Fla.)

Synopsis: Mitchell is yet another in the list of recent recruiting victories for Penn State in the state of Florida, with the program earning his commitment over Florida State and Miami. He doesn’t have elite size but makes up for it with his ability to stay with wide receivers and limit passing windows.

He will have a chance to play on special teams early in his career and could be in line for avoiding a redshirt given the team’s youth at the position with the impending departure of Johnny Dixon and the potential for Kalen King to leave as well. That doesn’t mean he will start, but he could see a role on defense and special teams as a freshman.

EDGE Jaylen Harvey, 4 stars

Height/weight: 6-2/245

School: Quince Orchard (Gaithersburg, Md.)

Synopsis: Penn State has had success in Maryland and Harvey is another example of that. He’s a four-star recruit, according to the On3 Industry Rating, and chose the program over his home state Terps and a future Big Ten school in USC.

The four-star is a true edge rusher who should be at his best when he can focus on that aspect and will have to improve against the run once he gets to campus. He has the burst off the edge that Penn State defensive line coach Deion Barnes should be able to maximize and help become a quality player for the Nittany Lions.

WR Josiah Brown, 4 stars

Height/weight: 5-11/170

School: Malverne (Malverne, N.Y.)

Synopsis: Brown is a four-star recruit, but likely won’t be able to make an impact early on at Penn State. The wide receiver suffered a severe knee injury that will keep him out for an extended period of time, making it difficult for him to be fully up to speed when he’s a freshman.

He will have to add weight once he gets to campus in order to deal with the physicality of the Big Ten and will have to improve as a route runner once he’s recovered. Once he does those things, he should be able to compete for playing time as a receiver thanks to the speed and quickness he brings to the table.

OL Cooper Cousins, 4 stars

Height/weight: 6-6/305

School (Hometown): McDowell (Erie, Pa.)

Synopsis: The early enrollee is just McDowell’s second-ever player to earn an invitation to the All-American Bowl in San Antonio. (The first was Kyle Mitchum, who enrolled at Ohio State in 2004.) Three of the major recruiting services have Cousins ranked among the top 125 overall prospects in the country, and he is largely considered either the best or second-best OL prospect in PSU’s class.

Cousins is versatile, can play inside or outside, and he could be in for some early playing time. He’s physical, strong and athletic. And he’s been committed since January.

OT Garrett Sexton, 4 stars

Height/weight: 6-6.5/265

School (Hometown): Arrowhead (Hartland, Wis.)

Synopsis: Sexton’s ascent is a unique one. The former 195-pound sophomore quarterback has rocketed up a lot of recruiting boards, especially this past season. He’s obviously lighter than most players at his position, but he has the frame to add more weight — and the Nittany Lions don’t seem too concerned. He does have an 85-inch wingspan, after all.

Sexton boasted more than a dozen scholarship offers, from the likes of Iowa, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. He committed to Penn State in April. He was first-team all-state this past season, and he was a candidate for player of the year.

S Dejuan Lane, 4 stars

Height/weight: 6-2/200

School (Hometown): Gilman (Baltimore)

Synopsis: Lane chose the Nittany Lions over finalists that included Georgia, Maryland, Michigan and Notre Dame. Both On3 and ESPN rank him among the nation’s top 300 prospects.

The cornerback-turned-safety started at powerhouse Gilman since he was a freshman. He acknowledged he was a little bored early on since teams simply threw away from him — but that changed when he moved to safety and opponents couldn’t avoid him. He’s athletic enough to play offense and special teams, and he boasts a nice blend of size and speed. He committed in June, and he should turn into a nice weapon for safeties coach Anthony Poindexter.

RB Corey Smith, 4 stars

Height/weight: 5-11/175

School (Hometown): Catholic Memorial (Waukesha, Wis.)

Synopsis: Smith broke his collarbone in his Aug. 18 opener and missed seven games before returning — and then promptly caught a 74-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring and help secure his coach’s 400th career win. Smith is speedy track athlete and one of the top players in the state of Wisconsin.

As a junior, he scored a touchdown about every six carries. (He had 146 carries for 1,209 yards and 24 TDs.) Smith committed in April and had scholarship offers from the likes of Nebraska, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

EDGE Mylachi Williams, 4 stars

Height/weight: 6-3/217

School (Hometown): Monsignor Bonner (Drexel Hill, Pa.)

Synopsis: The recruiting services are split on Williams. On3 and Rivals both rate him as a 4-star prospect; ESPN and 247 consider him a 3-star. But On3 is the highest on Williams, as it ranks him as the nation’s No. 80 overall prospect.

It’s not hard to see the potential. Williams is a pass-rush specialist and a player with great quickness and athleticism. But there have been some questions about his lower body. He chose the Nittany Lions over Pitt and Syracuse, while also holding offers from the likes of Georgia, Michigan and Notre Dame.

S Vaboue Toure, 4 stars

Height/weight: 6-1/200

School (Hometown): Irvington (Irvington, N.J.)

Synopsis: Toure is a bit of an enigma in that he is either a 3- or 4-star prospect, depending on the recruiting service. On3 and ESPN both have him listed as a 4-star player, one who ranks among the nation’s top 250 recruits. Rivals and 247 list him as a 3-star prospect, who’s ranked outside the top 45 at his position.

No matter where he’s ranked, though, Toure has a reputation as an athlete and a hard-hitter. He chose the Nittany Lions in June over Ohio State, Oklahoma and Kentucky. And he’s also been invited to play in the All-American Bowl in San Antonio.

DL T.A. Cunningham, 3 stars

Height/weight: 6-6.5/275

School (Hometown): Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)

Synopsis: In April 2022, Cunningham was seen by some as the top DL prospect in the nation. But his junior season got off to rough start when he was caught up in an NIL-related transfer controversy that didn’t clear him until that October. He’s been to at least four high schools in four seasons.

His stock has dropped since then, but the potential remains. He has an 80-inch wingspan, a reputation as a game-changer and a scholarship list that tops out at over 60. He picked PSU over Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Oklahoma and Texas A&M.

LB Anthony Speca, 3 stars

Height/weight: 6-2/220

School (Hometown): Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Synopsis: Speca is viewed as a 4-star linebacker by Rivals but as a 3-star prospect elsewhere. He doesn’t have a reputation as the fastest player, but he did earn high praise for his role as a hard-nosed run-stopper.

He had at least 17 tackles for loss this past season — and 19 the season before — and the in-state ‘backer couldn’t resist playing for LBU. He committed in January, despite other offers from the likes of Florida State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Pitt.

OL Donovan Harbour, 3 stars

Height/weight: 6-3.5/325

School (Hometown): Catholic Memorial (Waukesha, Wis.)

Synopsis: In one of the bigger recruiting service disagreements, On3 has Harbour listed as the nation’s No. 89 interior offensive lineman, while ESPN has him as the nation’s No. 2 offensive guard — and as the No. 61 overall prospect, with an invitation to the Under Armour All-America Game. (Only ESPN has him as a 4-star recruit; the others list him as a 3-star.)

Harbour clearly has the size to make an impact. But he’ll need to improve his pass protection, and some extra time with strength coach Chuck Losey certainly couldn’t hurt. He had more than 20 scholarship offers from schools like Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon and Wisconsin.

DL De’Andre Cook, 3 stars

Height/weight: 6-4/260

School (Hometown): Friendship Collegiate Academy (Washington, D.C.)

Synopsis: Cook is expected to play defensive tackle, and he most definitely had the ability to take over games in high school. In the DCSAA Class 2A title game, he finished with six tackles for loss and three sacks in the 25-13 win. He’s very athletic for a big man.

Cook chose the Nittany Lions over Boston College, North Carolina and Rutgers. He committed over the summer.

CB Kenneth Woseley, 3 stars

Height/weight: 5-11/165

School (Hometown): Imhotep (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Synopsis: By committing in March, Woseley became just the fourth commit of the 2024 class. Rivals lists him as a 4-star prospect and the No. 29 CB in the country, while the other recruiting services have him as a 3-star who ranks between No. 44 and 79 at his position.

Woseley has a reputation as a good student — he was a STEM ambassador, after all — and he helped his team win a state title this season. It’s sometimes difficult to gauge how good high school cornerbacks are, since QBs tend to avoid the best, but Woseley still reeled in six interceptions.

CB Antoine Belgrave-Shorter, 3 stars

Height/weight: 6-0/175

School (Hometown): Mandarin (Jacksonville, Fla.)

Synopsis: He may not be the highest-rated recruit on the board, but don’t sleep on Belgrave-Shorter. He and his high school teammate — and future PSU teammate — Jon Mitchell combined to form the most dangerous CB duo in Jacksonville this season, and Belgrave-Shorter is among the top athletes in Florida.

On3’s Ryan Snyder told the CDT he wouldn’t be surprised if Belgrave-Shorter “played a couple hundred snaps next year in seven or eight games” for Penn State. He claimed more than 20 offers from programs such as Duke, Iowa, Maryland, Ole Miss and Pitt. And he committed in April.

DL Xavier Gilliam, 3 stars

Height/weight: 6-2.5/275

School: Quince Orchard (Gaithersburg, Md.)

Synopsis: Gilliam joins Penn State after teaming up with Harvey at Quince Orchard for his senior season. The three-star defensive lineman made the move to the new school after previously playing for Wilde Lake High School in Maryland.

His transition led to a slow start, but On3’s Ryan Snyder said things came together for Gilliam by the end of the season.

“Gilliam had an incredible second half of the season at Quince Orchard playing alongside multiple Division I players on the team,” he said. “He really came on after transferring there. It’s understandable that his first half would not be as productive as his second half.”

WR Peter Gonzalez, 3 stars

Height/weight: 6-2/200

School: Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Synopsis: Gonzalez is one of three receivers in this class and brings size and athleticism to Penn State’s room. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound high school senior chose Penn State over offers from schools like Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech.

He’s a three-star recruit according to all four major recruiting services, but is someone On3’s Ryan Snyder said he believes is underrated.

“He did a lot of good things this season coming back from injury,” Snyder said. “People were always wondering about his speed. He comes up to Penn State and crushes it at camp. He runs some great 100-meter times in track. Any questions about Gonzalez athletically coming back from a knee injury, those are absolutely gone. If you put on the film, you can look at some of the splash plays he made.”

WR Tyseer Denmark, 3 stars

Height/weight: 5-10/185

School: Imhotep Institute (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Synopsis: Penn State wasn’t the first school Denmark chose, originally committing to Oregon before backing off that pledge in June and choosing the Nittany Lions later that month. He also made the move from Roman Catholic to Imhotep Institute for his senior year and is a four-star recruit according to ESPN and Rivals.

Denmark comes in with a quality list of schools chasing him early in his recruitment, with Ohio State joining Oregon and Penn State in that regard. He isn’t the biggest wide receiver and could end up playing as a slot receiver in the long run.

ATH Caleb Brewer, 3 stars

Height/weight: 6-4/295

School: Wyomissing (Reading, Pa.)

Synopsis: Brewer may only be a three-star recruit, but he had some of the biggest schools in the country offering him before he chose Penn State. The offensive lineman boasted offers from Michigan and Notre Dame, among others.

He is a potential interior offensive lineman at the next level with good size to play inside at 6-foot-4, 295 pounds. Brewer, like most lineman, will need to work on being ready for the physicality of the Big Ten before he is able to see the field for Penn State. A redshirt his freshman season seems likely.

OT Eagan Boyer, 3 stars

Height/weight: 6-8/250

School: William Amos Hough (Cornelius, N.C.)

Synopsis: Boyer is a true offensive tackle at 6-foot-8, with the length that should allow him to stay on the outside in college. However, he’s only listed at 250 pounds and could be a multi-year project for the coaching staff to get him ready for the college game.

The North Carolina native chose Penn State over offers from Auburn and Virginia Tech, among others, and is the type of developmental offensive tackle the program could use. Boyer may only be a 3-star recruit, but contributing at tackle would almost assuredly mean he’s outperformed his high school rating.

LB Kari Jackson, 3 stars

Height/weight: 6-1.5/220

School: West Bloomfield (West Bloomfield, Mich.)

Synopsis: Penn State dipped into Michigan to get one of its two linebackers this recruiting cycle, with Jackson choosing Penn State over listed offers from home state Michigan and Michigan State. He’s a four-star recruit according to Rivals but a three-star according to the other three scouting services and will join a crowded linebacker room that boasts a lot of young talent.

Jackson is a likely redshirt candidate his first season but could see special teams action as a redshirt freshman if he develops.