While all eyes were on Penn State getting ready for their first round College Football Playoff matchup against SMU on Saturday, they were able to improve their team for next season.
Having already earned a commitment from USC transfer wide receiver Kyron Hudson, the Nittany Lions were able to strike again.
Per Hayes Fawcett of On3, former Texas A&M edge rusher [autotag]Enai White[/autotag] is now the second player in the portal to commit to Penn State following his visit to Happy Valley.
Rated as a four-star recruit in the 2022 class, 247Sports ranked him as the No. 38 overall player in the cycle and fourth-best edge rusher in the country.
White was someone who was on Penn State’s radar when he was a prep player. From Imhotep Institute in Philadelphia, they were in the running to land the talented defensive end until he ultimately committed to Texas A&M. But now that he was looking for a new opportunity elsewhere, he decided to come back to his home state after seeing what the Nittany Lions had to offer once again.
Defensive line coach Deion Barnes was a huge factor in this decision.
“I knew coach Deion before he got the job at Penn State. He used to train me. He grew up not too far from where I grew up. The way they play their defensive ends (stood out). They play vertical, up the field. That kind of fits the way I play the game. The belief that coach Deion had in me, I am in the transfer portal, I am coming off an injury, but he still believes in what I can do, so that plays a big role in what I have going on right now,” he said per Brian Dohn of 247Sports.
Penn State will have a need at pass rusher next season.
With [autotag]Abdul Carter[/autotag] proving he’s one of the premier players in the sport, he’s going to have NFL teams fighting over him when he eventually declares for the draft.
The Nittany Lions have had success out of the transfer portal at this position recently, as [autotag]Chop Robinson[/autotag] turned into a first-round pick in the 2024 draft after coming in from Maryland.
White has the pedigree, but his lackluster career so far that consists of 11 total tackles with three coming for a loss and two sacks certainly doesn’t make this a sure thing.
The relationship and familiarity with Barnes should help, and Penn State doesn’t just take players out of the portal just to take him.
If White can live up to his potential in Happy Valley, he could be the next great pass rusher who has suited up for the program.