Recruiting update: Penn State football adds seven commitments in 2024 class in busy June
Penn State had a big month on the recruiting trail after a relatively quiet May. They made several key additions to the 2024 class and are now up to 21 commitments.
Let’s take a look at who the Nittany Lions added, who all is committed and where the group ranks nationally and in the Big Ten.
Note: All rankings are based on the 247Sports Composite team and player rankings.
Committed prior to June
2024
ATH Quinton Martin (Belle Vernon, Pa.) — 4-star, No. 1 in Pennsylvania, No. 41 nationally
OL Cooper Cousins (Erie, Pa.) — 4-star, No. 2 in Pennsylvania, No. 185 nationally
OL Donovan Harbour (Waukesha, Wisc.) — 4-star No. 1 in Wisconsin, No. 194 nationally
CB Jon Mitchell (Jacksonville, Fla.) — 4-star, No. 32 in Florida, No. 197 nationally
TE Luke Reynolds (Cheshire, Conn.) — 4-star, No. 5 in Connecticut, No. 235 nationally
RB Corey Smith (Waukesha, Wisc.) — 4-star, No. 3 in Wisconsin, No. 250 nationally
QB Ethan Grunkemeyer (Lewis Center, Ohio) — 4-star, No. 8 in Ohio, No. 258 nationally
OL Garrett Sexton (Hartland, Wisc.) — 4-star, No. 4 in Wisconsin, No. 322 nationally
LB Anthony Speca (Pittsburgh, Pa.) — 4-star, No. 10 in Pennsylvania, No. 416 nationally
CB Kenneth Woseley (Philadelphia, Pa.) — 3-star, No. 11 in Pennsylvania, No. 477 nationally
LB Kari Jackson (West Bloomfield, Mich.) — 3-star, No. 11 in Michigan, No. 493 nationally
ATH Caleb Brewer (Reading, Pa.) — 3-star, No. 18 in Pennsylvania, No. 624 nationally
CB Antoine Belgrave-Shorter (Jacksonville, Fla.) — 3-star, No. 92 in Florida, No. 640 nationally
OL Eagan Boyer (Cornelius, N.C.) — 3-star, No. 23 in North Carolina, No. 674 nationally
2025
OT Jaelynne Matthews (Toms River, N.J.) — 4-star, No. 1 in New Jersey, No. 64 nationally
Kiendrea Barker (The Woodlands, Texas) — 4-star, No. 38 in Texas, No. 221 nationally
S Omari Gaines (Newark, N.J.) — 3-star, No. 10 in New Jersey, No. 347 nationally
Additions
2024
WR Tyseer Denmark (Philadelphia, Pa.) — 4-star, No. 3 in Pennsylvania, No. 229 nationally
ATH Josiah Brown (Hicksville, N.Y.) — 4-star, No. 1 in New York, No. 253 nationally
S Vaboue Toure (Irvington, N.J.) — 4-star, No. 4 in New Jersey, No. 264 nationally
S Dejuan Lane (Baltimore, Md.) — 4-star, No. 8 in Maryland, No. 326 nationally
DL De’Andre Cook (Washington D.C) — 3-star, No. 5 in District of Columbia, No. 946 nationally
WR Peter Gonzalez (Pittsburgh, Pa.) — 3-star, No. 29 in Pennsylvania, No. 1044 nationally
EDGE Xavier Gilliam (Columbia, Md.) — 3-star, No. 29 in Maryland, No. 1130 nationally
2025
None
Notes: This was a big month for both sides of the ball in the 2024 class, especially at wide receiver and safety. The Nittany Lions added Denmark, who was previously committed to Oregon, Brown, who projects as a wide receiver, and Gonzalez as weapons on the outside on offense.
All three should help bolster a room that currently lacks star power. It does not, however, lack in numbers. The team currently has 12 wide receivers with eligibility to return in 2024 and is still targeting more receivers in the 2024 class.
Lane and Toure join a group that did not have any true safeties in it, while Gilliam and Cook are versatile defensive linemen with the frame to grow into defensive tackles in the long run.
Subtractions
OT Deryc Plazz (Jacksonville, Fla.) — 3-star, No. 136 in Florida, No. 1014 nationally
Notes: Plazz is an interesting situation, because he both committed and decommitted this month. The three-star offensive tackle announced for the Nittany Lions early in the month before opening things back up in the middle of it. It remains to be seen if Plazz could circle back to a class that has five offensive linemen, counting ATH Caleb Brewer.
Rankings
NCAA — No. 6
Big Ten — No. 3 behind Michigan (No. 4 nationally) and Ohio State (No. 2 nationally)
Notes: Penn State remained third in the Big Ten, with Ohio State hopping Michigan for first, and jumped up one spot from No. 7 nationally to No. 6. The Nittany Lions have grown their class in size but will need to continue adding high-end talent and players that are ranked highly nationally.
