While all eyes were on Penn State’s annual Blue-White Game this weekend, they picked up another recruiting commitment from a running back in the class of 2025. The recruiting focus has moved to the growing 2024 class, but it’s never too early to get players from younger classes locked into the program.
That was the case on Sunday when four-star running back [autotag]Kiandrea Barker[/autotag] announced his commitment to Penn State. He spent a two-day visit over the weekend and didn’t leave State College without giving his early commitment to the Nittany Lions.
Barker is a 6’0″ 185 pound prospect from Arkansas but plays high school football in Texas for The Woodlands High School. 247Sports has him ranked as the 68th player overall in his class and the number nine running back prospect. He had 11 scholarship offers from programs across the country but decided on Penn State over some notable names like Miami, Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
This commitment now makes three players already locked into Penn State’s recruiting class of 2025.
#AGTG committed!! @coachjfranklin @CoachCBW @coachseider pic.twitter.com/QJeyIDSCqO
— Kiandrea Barker (@KiandreaBarker) April 16, 2023
Barker told On3 that he grew up idolizing former Penn State running back [autotag]Saquan Barkley[/autotag] saying, “Growing up, I watched Saquan before he got drafted, so I knew that if Penn State ever offered they would be one of my top choices.”
He continued by saying, “Penn State is a great college and they play the kind of football I like… the year that [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag] had this past season, I think Penn State is where home is and who can get me to the top level of football.”
Penn State is known as “Linebacker U,” but if they continue recruiting and putting elite running backs in the NFL, that nickname might have to be updated at some point.
It’s clear that the running back position is something that the coaching staff puts an emphasis on when recruiting. Landing a player of Barker’s caliber early in his recruitment process is a huge win for the program.
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