Tag: Andrew Olesh

Penn State welcoming five-star quarterback Matt Zollers to campus Saturday

Penn State hosting five-star QB currently committed to SEC program this weekend.

Penn State will have a ton of recruits on campus this Saturday, mainly with the focus of going after some targets in future cycles since the 2025 prospects are roughly a month away from National Signing Day.

But, the Nittany Lions also have some huge 2025 targets on campus for this massive Ohio State showdown as well.

It’s been shared that [autotag]Andrew Olesh[/autotag], one of the best tight ends in the country and one of the best in the state of Pennsylvania, is returning to Happy Valley for the first time since his official visit back in the summer prior to his commitment to Michigan.

There is a real chance Penn State is able to pull off this flip, something that would be a huge victory in this cycle, but while there is a lot of attention placed on that recruitment, the Nittany Lions are welcoming back another target of theirs this Saturday.

Sean Fitz of BlueWhiteIllustrated reports that five-star quarterback and Missouri commit, [autotag]Matt Zollers[/autotag], will be on campus for the first time since March (subscription required).

There is no indication he’s leaning towards decommitting from the Tigers, especially since he’s a featured part of their 2025 recruiting class as the 31st-ranked player in the country and No. 5 quarterback in the cycle per On3’s Industry Ranking.

Still, it’s very notable that Penn State has never given up on this process and was able to get him back for a visit despite him seemingly being off the radar from programs around the country since he committed to Missouri back in April.

Zollers also underwent a season-ending leg injury that required surgery, so maybe there’s a chance he prefers to stay closer to home, which could impact his decision.

What comes out of this will be seen, but now having both Olesh and Zollers on campus for this huge game against Ohio State could allow the Nittany Lions to close hard with their most coveted in-state recruits in this cycle.

Penn State hosting coveted flip target Andrew Olesh this Saturday

Penn State will be hosting a key recruiting target on Saturday when Ohio State comes to town.

Penn State is working hard to finish off their 2025 recruiting class strong. There are some indications that they will pull off one of their biggest flip targets in [autotag]Brandon Finney[/autotag] as multiple recruiting insiders are predicting that to happen.

The Nittany Lions won’t be able to celebrate until that becomes official, but things are trending in the right direction for them to land one of the best cornerback prospects in the cycle.

Speaking of coveted prospects they are looking to flip, Penn State is still not giving up on in-state tight end recruit [autotag]Andrew Olesh[/autotag] after he disappointingly announced his commitment to Michigan back in early-July.

That process seemed to be pretty well shut, however, the No. 2 overall player in the state of Pennsylvania and the third-best tight end in the country has seemingly started to waver on his decision based on him visiting other schools.

Most recently, Olesh took a trip to Oregon. That came on the heels of him visiting Alabama.

And now, the four-star prospect is returning to Penn State on Saturday for the first time since his official visit on June 14.

Based on comments made by his father, George, to Steve Wiltfong of On3, this weekend will go a long way in deciding if the Nittany Lions can flip the coveted tight end. He mentioned how they initially were monitoring to see how this new offense would look under Andy Kotelnicki, and while the family has been impressed with how Tyler Warren has been used, they are still waiting to see if “Penn State able to get over the hump” by beating Ohio State (subscription required).

The decision might not be so simple as yes or no based on the result coming out of Saturday, but winning the game would go a long way for the Nittany Lions in this recruitment.

2025 Michigan tight end commit will make official visit to Notre Dame

This would be a huge flip.

Notre Dame has developed a reputation in recent years for its quality tight ends. Another one could be coming to the Irish next season, and it would really would make the fan base happy.

Tight end recruit Andrew Olesh, the top-ranked 2025 recruit in Pennsylvania according to 247Sports, committed to Michigan on July 8 without the Irish having made him an offer. Clearly, something has changed though because Irish Illustrated is reporting that Olesh will make an official visit for the Irish’s Nov. 9 game against Florida State.

If the Irish were to lure Olesh away from the Wolverines, he would be the third 2025 commit that 247Sports has ranked as the best in their respective state. The ones so far are offensive tackle [autotag]Will Black[/autotag] from Connecticut and [autotag]James Flanigan[/autotag], currently the only tight end in that recruiting class, from Wisconsin.

247Sports currently ranks the Irish 13th among the 2025 recruiting classes, so this should bump them up a bit if it happens:

Best of luck to the Irish in efforts to flip Olesh.

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Follow Geoffrey on X: @gfclark89

Michigan football gets potentially good news on the recruiting front

Definitely a positive development. #GoBlue

Thus far in 2025, Michigan football has assembled a very good recruiting class, but now that it’s nearly done playing offense, it has to play some defense.

The Wolverines got some of their top targets over the course of the summer, but now have been fending off other schools for those who have committed to the maize and blue. One player has already flipped to another school with four-star defensive lineman Nate Marshall heading to Auburn. But a few others — four-star tight end Andrew Olesh and four-star safety Ivan Taylor — have been courted by some rival programs.

One good piece of news comes on Thursday evening with The Wolverine’s EJ Holland reporting that Olesh — who has been heavily courted by Oregon — is no longer planning to visit Eugene for the Ducks game hosting Ohio State.

Of course, the Crimson Tide — who hosted both Olesh and Taylor for their tilt against Georgia — still loom. But considering Oregon has been the chief competition for Olesh, this certainly qualifies as a positive development.

Penn State loses out on another top in-state 2025 prospect

Penn State saw one of its top in-state targets commit to a Big Ten rival.

Ever since [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] took over as head coach of the program, his goal has been to “Dominate the State” in recruiting and keep the best high schools players in Pennsylvania home.

For the most part, he’s done an incredible job of accomplishing that.

The Nittany Lions have been littered with talented in-state prospects during Franklin’s tenure, landing notable five-stars and keeping the majority out of the hands of other programs.

Unfortunately, Penn State has had some trouble keeping the best players in the 2025 class from leaving home.

On July 8, their coveted four-star tight end target [autotag]Andrew Olesh[/autotag] announced his commitment to Michigan, handing the Nittany Lions a major loss on the recruiting trail.

He told EJ Holland of On3 that the Wolverines compared him to one of their current star tight ends and that he could do something similar in this offense. The fact that his position gets the ball so often was a major selling point for Olesh and the official visit was what ultimately pushed Michigan into his No. 1 spot.

What that means for Penn State is clear.

They have let some of the best talent in Pennsylvania get away from them in this 2025 class.

Matt Zollers, Michael Carroll, and now Olesh, the top three players in the state as ranked by On3, have all committed elsewhere. Two are five-stars in quarterback Zollers and offensive tackle Carroll, something that stings even more.

Every cycle is different, so this isn’t a “sky is falling” moment by any means, but it does signal that the Nittany Lions have to continue keeping a stranglehold on recruits in their own state no matter how much they think they have things on cruise control.

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Michigan football gets commitment from elite 2025 TE

#Michigan stole one from #PennState. #GoBlue

Penn State is the major program within the Keystone State, but even it can’t get them all. Perhaps it’s a trade-off considering that Michigan football couldn’t get Theo Johnson from nearby Windsor, Ontario.

Hailing from Center Valley (Pa.) Southern Lehigh, four-star tight end Andrew Olesh had appeared to be trending to the Nittany Lions for some time, though he was also considering the Wolverines, Alabama, Florida, and Ole Miss. However, his recruitment started to trend toward the maize and blue throughout the 2025 cycle, and ultimately, Michigan’s persistence appears to have paid off, with Olesh committing to the Wolverines a few weeks following his official visit during Victors Weekend.

Here is how Olesh ranks according to the recruiting services:

Stars Ovr Pos State
247Sports Composite 4 119 4 3
On3 Industry Ranking 4 93 3 4
247Sports 4 84 4 2
On3 4 67 3 3
Rivals 4 – 11 8
ESPN 4 106 3 3

Olesh was hosted by star tight end Colston Loveland during his official visit. Tight ends coach Steve Casula was his primary recruiter for Michigan.

Here is the scouting report from 247Sports’ Greg Biggins:

Long, athletic WR who projects as a TE in college. Productive junior season with 53 catches for 972 yards and 10 TDs. Looks all of 6-5 and has the frame to carry additional weight when he hits college. Has huge hands and is one of the more natural pass catchers in this year’s class. Runs well and shows both initial quickness in his releases and the long speed to run away from a secondary. Lines up mostly outside and is a smooth pass catcher who can change speeds and knows how to set up a defender. Has a nice burst getting in and out of his breaks and can create late separation. Big catch radius because of his length and ability to use his hands and runs well after the catch. Not asked to block a ton right now and adding some bulk and strength should be a priority but flashes a lot of upside and should be a tough matchup for opposing linebackers and safeties to deal with at the next level.

Listed at 6-foot-5, 212 pounds, Olesh also had offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Colorado, Florida State, Miami, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and others. He is Michigan’s second tight end commitment in the 2025 class with Eli Owens already in the fold.

Top 2025 TE recruiting target offers notes on recent official visit with Florida

Florida’s top tight end target stopped in the Swamp last weekend for an official visit.

Florida football hosted four-star tight end [autotag]Andrew Olesh[/autotag] out of Center Valley (Pennsylvania) Southern Lehigh in the 2025 cycle last weekend on an official visit and the rising high school senior seemingly had a positive experience in Gainesville.

“Just the people there and the environment. I can relate,” Olesh told 247Sports. “Coach (Russ) Callaway, he is one of my favorite coaches ever. I like the people there.”

The 6-foot-5-inch, 215-pound end was hosted by kicker [autotag]Trey Smack[/autotag] and tight end [autotag]Hayden Hansen[/autotag] while on campus for his OV.

“They are so cool to hang out with. They are awesome people and I can relate to them. They introduced me to the whole Florida thing and they took me around campus. They are just great people.”

Of course, he also spent some time with head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag].

“Coach Napier has been telling me that if I really do like Florida, make sure I am in touch. Pretty much make a decision when you have a feel for an environment and make sure you go to a program that cares for you.”

Recruiting Summary

Olesh is ranked No. 130 overall and No. 5 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 115 and 5, respectively.

On3’s recruiting prediction machine has the Penn State Nittany Lions out front in his recruitment with a 44.5% chance of signing him; the Michigan Wolverines (14.4%), Alabama Crimson Tide (12.3%) and Florida (10.3%) trail behind.

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Blue-chip tight end includes Florida among his top-8 choices

See what a 4-star tight end recruit had to say about the Florida Gators after including them in his top eight choices.

The Florida football program is almost always setting up high school recruits for official visits. It may be during the regular season, but most of the time it is during the team’s spring practice sessions that start in March and conclude with the annual spring game.

Now that the Orange and Blue game has come and gone, players are leaving their reviews for the college campuses and football facilities to help narrow down their top selections. Recently, a four-star recruit out of Center Valley, Pennsylvania paid a visit to several top universities, and his recent visit to UF helped the Gators earn a spot among his top eight choices.

High school tight end Andrew Olesh revealed his top choices to 247Sports, stating that selecting a top-eight list will help him go in-depth with what each program has to offer and where he fits best. Among the list are Alabama, Florida State, Michigan, Missouri, Pittsburgh, Penn State, Ole Miss and the Florida Gators.

There’s plenty of stiff competition for the Gators to out-recruit, and here’s what Olesh told 247Sports when it comes to the UF football program. He mainly liked the coaching style of Florida tight end coach Russ Callaway.

Recruiting Summary

Olesh is ranked No. 175 overall and No. 8 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 177 and 9, respectively.

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Penn State could have major competition to land four-star tight end

Will Penn State be able to keep this key in-state tight end home in the Class of 2025?

Penn State continues to work on building out their 2025 recruiting class with 12 players already committed.

The spring and summer months will be huge factors in the recruiting cycles of multiple prospects as many could rise in the rankings after attending different camps around the country, and will also visit campuses of schools interested in them.

When it comes to in-state kids, the Nittany Lions have done a good job at landing many of the top players on their board.

They’re hoping that’s the case again with four-star tight end [autotag]Andrew Olesh[/autotag].

The 6’5″ 215-pounder is from Center Valley, Pennsylvania. Because of his close proximity, he’s visited Penn State seven times already, by far the most out of any school who is recruiting him.

However, it seems like this could still be a battle for the Nittany Lions.

Olesh spoke with Chad Simmons of On3 and discussed his current process. He’s still interested in multiple other programs, including some big names in the SEC (subscription required).

The four-star is returning to Happy Valley for a visit on April 4, but already has other visits lined up to Ohio State, Alabama, Ole Miss, Florida and Miami throughout the spring.

On3’s Industry Rankings have Olesh listed as the No. 16 tight end in the country and 10th best player in the state, but they are much more high on the prospect than other recruiting sites, listing him as a Top-100 recruit and No. 4 player at his position.

Penn State fans should also take some solace in On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine giving the Nittany Lions a major edge with a 62.0% chance to land him. The second-place team on the list is sitting at 8.4%.

It will be an interesting process to monitor.

He told Simmons that he’s definitely closest with Penn State since he’s been there the most and has developed a solid relationship with tight ends coach Ty Howle, but made sure to mention the standing of the program could change.

Andrew Olesh breaks down his Rutgers football offer

Andrew Olesh talks about being offered by Rutgers football this weekend.

Andrew Oleseh was offered by Rutgers football on Saturday night. The offer from the Big Ten program capped off a day where Rutgers somehow pulled off an incredible comeback win over Michigan State.

Things are beginning to pick up in the Pennsylvania prospects’ recruitment as. since September, Olesh has been offered by Liberty and UNLV. The offer over the weekend from Rutgers represents his first from a Power Five program.

Olesh is a 6-foot-4, 200-pound athlete at Southern Lehigh (Center Valley, Pennsylvania). Projecting as a tight end at the next level, he currently plays as a wide receiver and a defensive back. He will graduate from high school in 2025.

On Sunday, he broke down the offer for Rutgers and what it means in his recruitment.

“The interest first started when I came to a Rutgers camp. They really liked my numbers but the problem was my weight, I came in around 199 pounds,” Olesh told Rutgers Wire.

“We stayed in touch since then and I came to the game today weighing in at around 210. They liked the weight progression a lot so they decided to offer.”

Down 24-6 in the fourth quarter, Rutgers was keyed by two big special teams plays in a tremendous fourth-quarter comeback that saw them win 27-24.

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With the win, Rutgers is now 5-2 (2-2 Big Ten) and is one game away from bowl eligibility.

“(The) Game was amazing. Rutgers had a huge comeback in the fourth quarter to win the game which was great to watch,” Olseh said.

For Olesh, the offer is a big one given that it is his first from a Power Five program.

[lawrence-related id=31134,31132]

“It feels like a dream come true. It’s great to have a chance at playing Power Five football,” Olesh said.

“I feel and think very highly of them. Everything that the coaches talked to me about was just very genuine and thoughtful. So that puts them high up and I’m very interested.”