Tag: Kari Jackson

Penn State player availability report for Kent State updated

Penn State has posted its player availability report for today’s game against Kent State.

Penn State will be without one of its top defensive players on the roster this weekend when the Nittany Lions host Kent State for a mid-Saturday afternoon non-conference matchup. Head coach James Franklin announced this week that the team will be without safety, Kevin Winston Jr., for an extended period of time due to a long-term injury. This week’s player availability confirmed that for this week with Winston Jr. being among the players officially ruled out on the Penn State player availability report.

Big Ten teams are required to provide a player availability report prior to their respective games each week as part of a new conference policy put into place for the 2023 season.

The following players were listed as out for Penn State for the Kent State game.

  • [autotag]Kevin Winston Jr.[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Jaxon Smolik[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Kari Jackson[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Keon Wylie[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Zuriah Fisher[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Mason Robinson[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Mehki Flowers[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Peter Gonzalez[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Andrew Rappleyea[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Sam Siafa[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Liam Andrews[/autotag]
  • [autotag]De’Andre Cook[/autotag]
  • [autotag]T.A. Cunningham[/autotag]

Penn State hosts Kent State at 3:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.

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Penn State player availability report for Week 1 at West Virginia

Penn State’s updated player availability reports confirms a couple of players expected to be out of action.

Penn State’s first road trip to open the season will see the roster without a number of players available. Penn State’s player availability report was released two hours before kicking off at West Virginia, and a total of 14 players have officially been ruled out of action.

Some of the names appearing on the list were not surprising to see. Linebacker Keon Wylie has previously been reported to be out of action for a significant period of time since the spring. Backup quarterback Jaxon Smolik was also banged up with an undisclosed injury during camp.

One of the notable players to miss the West Virginia game includes tight end Khalil Dinkins, who is expected to be a key alternative to star Tyler Warren at the position. James Franklin did note this week that Dinkins had been getting banged up leading up to the game, however.

The following players have been ruled out for Penn State in Week 1:

  • [autotag]Jaxon Smolik[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Khalil Dinkins[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Mylachi Williams[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Kari Jackson[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Keon Wylie[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Zuriah Fisher[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Mason Robinson[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Xavier Gilliam[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Peter Gonzalez[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Jerry Cross[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Sam Siafa[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Liam Andrews[/autotag]
  • [autotag]De’Andre Cook[/autotag]
  • [autotag]T.A. Cunningham[/autotag]

Big Ten schools are required to provide a player availability report no later than two hours prior to a scheduled kickoff. The policy was put into effect in 2023 and has seen a few conferences follow that idea in 2024.

West Virginia has not had any reported injuries this week. The Big 12 does not have the same kind of rules requiring player availability reports for its members. The SEC and MAC each enacted a similar policy beginning this season following the Big Ten’s lead.

Penn State and West Virginia kick off the season with their game at noon Eastern on Fox.

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Biggest theme of Penn State’s 2024 class: balance

Penn State’s 2024 class offers one of the more balanced recruiting hauls in the country.

With the first and busiest day of the college football early signing period behind us, we can confirm that Penn State signed all 25 of its Class of 2024 commits earlier today. It was a “drama-free” signing day according to [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] who spoke after all the commits had signed. The class is now locked in for next year so let’s break it down.

Penn State returns a boatload of starting-caliber players from last season but will lose several starters to the NFL with more expected to announce in the coming month. Penn State has never been a heavy transfer portal school and relies mainly on keeping its returning players intact while reloading with a strong freshman class.

This years’ class is ranked 14th in the country by 247Sports Composite and 16th by On3. With 12 offensive commits and 13 defensive commits this year’s group is evenly balanced eluding to the fact that Franklin and his staff want to add quality depth around the board and fill in any neccessary holes from departing players.

From a positon standpoint is was more of the same type of balance across the board:

  • 7 skill players: QB [autotag]Ethan Grunkemeyer[/autotag], running backs [autotag]Quintin Martin[/autotag] and [autotag]Corey Smith[/autotag], wide recievers [autotag]Josiah Brown[/autotag], [autotag]Tyseer Denmark[/autotag], and [autotag]Peter Gonzalez[/autotag], tight end [autotag]Luke Reynolds[/autotag]
  • 5 offensive lineman: [autotag]Eagan Boyer[/autotag], [autotag]Caleb Brewer[/autotag], [autotag]Cooper Cousins[/autotag], [autotag]Donovan Harbour[/autotag], [autotag]Garrett Sexton[/autotag]
  • 6 defensive lineman: [autotag]Liam Andrews[/autotag], [autotag]DeAndre Cook[/autotag], [autotag]T.A. Cunningham[/autotag], [autotag]Xavier Gilliam[/autotag], [autotag]Jaylen Harvey[/autotag], and [autotag]Mylachi Williams[/autotag]
  • 5 secondary players: cornerbacks Antoine Belgrave-Shorter, Kenneth Woseley, Jon Mitchell, and safties Dejuan Lane, and Vaboue Toure
  • 2 linebackers: Kari Jackson and Anthony Specca

No one position or side of the ball dominated the 2024 recruiting cycle for Penn State, but thats a good thing because it shows that Penn State has talent everywhere. Three wide recievers were added to arguably the worst room in 2023 and a playmaking running back was added to a room featuring two former 5-star recruits. The trenches were reloaded with talent and many of the offensive line commits should challenge for starting spots in their first year.

In the time of the transfer portal and NIL perhaps a early signing day like the one Penn State had today is not exciting, but it does not matter Franklin’s method of “underpromise, overdeliver” method still produces wins. It has in the past. Penn State’s 2024 class is balanced, solid, and most importantly adds talent across the board which is key for sustained success.

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Which Class of 2024 players will enroll early at Penn State?

It looks like a good percentage of Penn State’s Class of 2024 will be on campus in January to get a jump with offseason workouts.

Now that Penn State has officially signed its Class of 2024 on the first day of the early signing period, or at least all of the commitments they had lined up, the page is quickly turning forward. Not to look past the upcoming Peach Bowl against Ole Miss later this month, but winter workouts and spring football will be here before you know it! And it seems a good percentage of Penn State’s Class of 2024 is expected to be on campus and ready to get started working with their new teammates and coaches.

Here are the players in Penn State’s Class of 2024 that are reportedly expected to enroll early in January and get started with the program:

  • DL [autotag]Liam Andrews[/autotag]
  • DB [autotag]Antoine Belgrave-Shorter[/autotag]
  • OL [autotag]Eagan Boyer[/autotag]
  • WR [autotag]Josiah Brown[/autotag]
  • DL [autotag]De’Andre Cook[/autotag]
  • OL [autotag]Cooper Cousins[/autotag]
  • DL [autotag]T.A. Cunningham[/autotag]
  • DL [autotag]Xavier Gilliam[/autotag]
  • QB [autotag]Ethan Grunkemeyer[/autotag]
  • DL [autotag]Jaylen Harvey[/autotag]
  • LB [autotag]Kari Jackson[/autotag]
  • RB [autotag]Quinton Martin[/autotag]
  • DB [autotag]Jon Mitchell[/autotag]
  • TE [autotag]Luke Reynolds[/autotag]
  • OL [autotag]Garrett Sexton[/autotag]
  • DB [autotag]Vaboue Toure[/autotag]

Every other member of Penn State’s Class of 2024 will join the program in the summer.

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Early Signing Day Tracker: Say hello to Penn State’s Class of 2024

The early signing period for college football is officially open as schools around the country are locking in their entire, if not the vast majority, of their recruiting classes for the Class of 2024. Penn State will be among the schools expecting …

The early signing period for college football is officially open as schools around the country are locking in their entire, if not the vast majority, of their recruiting classes for the Class of 2024. Penn State will be among the schools expecting to receive signed National Letters of Intent from their verbal commitments to make things official. There could always be a player or two who hold off until the traditional signing period in February for one reason or another, but Penn State is hoping for a pretty simple and straightforward opening to the early signing period.

Here is a look at each player who committed to Penn State in the Class of 2024 recruiting calendar and an update on which players have signed in the early signing period.

Penn State recruiting notebook: Ethan Grunkemeyer’s big night and Mylachi Williams wins in Ireland

Penn State QB commit Ethan Grunkemeyer thrashed Drew Allar’s alma mater and this PSU commit scored a victory in Ireland.

For some high school football players, this week has been the first chance to put on the pads and play a game. For a few others, this was Week 2 of the high school football season. Whatever the case may have been, and wherever the game may have been played, it has been a big weekend already for some of Penn State’s commits in the Class of 2024 and beyond.

Penn State quarterback commit [autotag]Ethan Grunkemeyer[/autotag] led his team to a massive non-conference victory on Friday night. One of Grunkemeyer’s recruiting classmates in the Class of 2024, [autotag]Mylachi Williams[/autotag], helped lead his team to a victory in Ireland. And one of Penn State’s newest commits, Class of 2026 running back [autotag]Messiah Mickins[/autotag], was on fire in his season-opening performance on Friday night.

Here is a quick roundup of some of the top high school football notes involving some future Nittany Lions.

Penn State’s 2024 football commitment tracker

An updated look at Penn State’s Class of 2024 following its most recent commitment.

Penn State pulled in a terrific Class of 2022 and got started with its Class of 2023 with some nice additions. But the work is already underway for the Class of 2024. Penn State received its first commitment to the Class of 2024 in January 2022 with some help on the offensive line in the commitment of in-state offensive tackle Cooper Cousins.

We’ll keep track of every commitment to Penn State’s Class of 2024 with this updated commitment tracker. Of course, this being the world of college football recruiting, there are bound to be some decommitments and twists and turns along the way, but we’ll keep track of those as well should they arise.

This tracker will be updated as necessary, with the most recent update being made on April 29, 2023.

Four-star CB Kenneth Woseley II commits to Penn State

Penn State went into the weekend with another four-star commitment on the board in the Class of 2024.

[autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] likes to say the best stay in PA and the Nittany Lions added another player who fits that mold on Friday.

Cornerback [autotag]Kenneth Woseley II[/autotag], a four-star recruit, committed to Penn State on Friday making him the fourth player to commit in the class of 2024. He joins fellow four-star recruits [autotag]Cooper Cousins[/autotag], [autotag]Anthony Speca[/autotag] and [autotag]Kari Jackson[/autotag] in next year’s class giving the Nittany Lions a strong start to what will be a tough cycle.

Something that always is nice, apart from getting a recruiting commitment, is taking away from other Big Ten schools. Woseley II was also considering Nebraska and Rutgers, but the player from Philadelphia ultimately decided to stay in the state and head northwest.

On the 247Sports live stream of his decision, Woseley II was asked what was Penn State going to be getting and he responded with “a top Philly dog.”

Woseley really got to work and spend time with defensive coordinator [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] during his official visit with the team and it proved vital to his decision. Woseley explained, “I like how coach Diaz’s defense plays gritty and disruptive and I truly believe that it fits my style of play…coach (Bryce) Jones sees me playing corner or nickel.”

He becomes the fourth player that Franklin and his staff have recruited from Philadelphia now. They already have linebacker Abdul Carter, safety Tyrece Mills and linebacker Keon Wylie who all are on the defensive side of the ball and ready to welcome another from the area to their group.

According to 247Sports’ rankings, Woseley sits as the nation’s No. 31 cornerback overall and is eighth overall in the state of Pennslyvania. Looking at the bigger picture, Penn State now sits ranked 17th in the 2023 recruiting class rankings and is third in the Big Ten behind Iowa and Michigan who rank 14th and 5th respectively.

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Wisconsin football loses out on three-star 2024 LB Kari Jackson

Wisconsin football loses three-star 2024 linebacker Kari Jackson to another Big Ten school:

On Tuesday morning, three-star 2024 linebacker Kari Jackson announced his commitment to the Penn State Nittany Lions after naming Wisconsin in his top seven schools earlier this month.

Related: Two Wisconsin Badgers break 21 MPH in latest ‘Need for Speed’ ranking

The Badgers offered the three-star recruit during his unofficial visit to campus on Nov. 6.  Wisconsin was joined in his top seven schools by Cincinnati, UCF, Maryland, Penn State, Missouri, and Stanford. Jackson is ranked as the No. 36 LB in the country and the No. 14-ranked player in Michigan by 247Sports.

It should be interesting to see who head coach Luke Fickell is able to land at the linebacker position in the class of 2024 with several important targets still up for grabs including the No. 14-ranked LB in the country, Aaron Chiles.

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Penn State gets verbal commitment from 4-star LB

Penn State welcomes another four-star linebacker to its Class of 2024 lineup

Penn State at one time was considered linebacker university and it seems they are working their way back towards that distinction.

On Tuesday, four-star linebacker [autotag]Kari Jackson[/autotag] announced his verbal commitment to Penn State’s Class of 2024 via Twitter. Jackson is the third player to commit to the Nittany Lions in the 2024 recruiting cycle.

Jackson joins offensive lineman Cooper Cousins and linebacker Anthony Speca in the 2024 class. [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag]’s 2024 class currently ranks 21st in 2024 with it being super early to where Penn State has a strong chance to enter the top ten as they usually do. Jackson did commit to Penn State over conference rivals Wisconsin and Maryland which is always a nice thing to see from a coaching staff and gives the fans a boost and reminder that these teams are always competing regardless of the month in the calendar year.

Jackson will be coming from West Bloomfield, Michigan which is also a nice get considering he took him out of the state that has two rival Big Ten teams. Despite the get of Jackson though, the Nittany Lions still are behind Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State, and Michigan State in the 2024 class rankings mentioned above.

He is the ninth-ranked player in the state of Michigan and ranks 30th overall as a linebacker across the country based on his 247 Sports recruiting profile.

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