Tag: King Mack

Penn State or Michigan State? King Mack set to announce decision

Penn State awaits official commitment announcement from four-star safety.

The finish line is in site for four-star safety [autotag]King Mack[/autotag]. The Florida native has announced he will be making his college decision official on Thursday afternoon, and Penn State only has one team to beat for his commitment.

As previously suggested, Penn State and Michigan State are the final two schools in the running for the Fort Lauderdale recruiting target. Mack made official visits to each in the month of June, with a visit to East Lansing on June 10 and a trip to Happy Valley the following weekend.

Mack is a four-star safety in the Class of 2023 according to the 247Sports composite rankings. Just based on the 247Sports recruiting rankings, Mack is the nation’s No. 7 safety and the No. 122 player in the nation overall.

Penn State is considered the favorite to secure the commitment from MAck. The On3 prediction machine calculates a 98.2% chance of Penn State receiving Mack’s commitment. Every crystal ball prediction filed to 247Sports also favors the Nittany Lions over Michigan State. At this late stage, it would seem to be considered a solid upset of Mack doesn’t choose Penn State.

Good news appears to be on the horizon for the Nittany Lions, and there could still be more on the way in the coming week. Penn State’s Class of 2023 is already viewed as one of the best classes in the nation. Adding Mack and some potential targets in the coming days and weeks will only continue to solidify Penn State’s standing in the recruiting rankings.

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Penn State and Michigan State battling for four-star safety King Mack

Where Penn State stands in the recruiting process of four-star Florida safety King Mack

A pair of Big Ten schools appear to be coming down the final stretch in the recruiting process for [autotag]King Mack[/autotag], a four-star safety from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. After back-to-back official visits to East Lansing and State College, the Nittany Lions still appear to be on the inside track to Mack’s commitment.

Penn State has assembled some good quality depth in the defensive secondary in recent years. After the secondary was a strength of the team in 2021, the collective unit looks to once again be a strength in 2022. But Penn State will be in need of some new blood at the safety position after the 2022 season with expected departures of [autotag]Ji’Ayir Broan[/autotag] and [autotag]Keaton Ellis[/autotag] after this season. Adding a four-star talent to the safety depth chart would be great news for Penn State head coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] and defensive coordinator [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag].

The month of June has shown more and more traction for Penn State based on the recruiting predictions coming in and a decision is expected to be announced at some point this summer. Penn State already has a commitment from Mack’s high school teammate [autotag]Conrad Hussey[/autotag] and the two could end up remaining teammates in Happy Valley.

Here’s a look at Mack’s recruiting profile as he approaches his decision date.

King Mack’s Recruiting Profile

Recruiting analyst makes crystal ball pick for Penn State for four-star safety

Recruiting analyst makes crystal ball pick for Penn State for this four-star safety from Florida.

Penn State’s future at the safety position could be on the cusp of some terrific news in the recruiting process. Four-star safety [autotag]King Mack[/autotag], of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is reportedly set to make his college decision this summer, and the first crystal ball prediction on the board at 247Sports favors the Nittany Lions.

247Sports southeast recruiting analyst Andrew Irvins cast his official crystal ball prediction for Mack on June 1 for Penn State. That comes a few weeks before Mack is scheduled to make an official visit at Penn State later this month. Mack is scheduled to visit Penn State on June 17.

A week prior, Mack will be scheduled to visit Michigan State (June 10).  With Penn State and Michigan State being the only official visits confirmed for June, it does appear as though Mack’s decision will be coming down to the two Big Ten programs. Penn State getting the second visit is a good sign. Penn State has been considered the favorite. The On3 prediction machine calculates Penn State with a 97.3% chance to land the coveted commitment.

Mack is a 5′-11″ safety from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale. 247Sports ranks him as the No. 20 safety in the Class of 2023 and the No. 52 player in the fertile state of Florida. Mack is also an accomplished track star and he recorded 54 tackles with four interceptions for St. Thoma Aquinas en route to a Florida 7A state championship last fall.

Penn State currently has one safety on the board for the Class of 2023 with [autotag]Conrad Hussey[/autotag], Mack’s teammate at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. Penn State also has added [autotag]Lamont Payne[/autotag] at cornerback in the Class of 2023 to add to the future depth in the defensive secondary. The addition of Mack would be a huge win for the Penn State recruiting class in its effort to provide years of future stability in the secondary.

We’ll be sure to be keeping an eye on Mack’s recruiting process this month, beginning with his visit to Michigan State next week.

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2024 ATH Preston Ries earns second offer from the Iowa Hawkeyes

Class of 2024 in-state athlete Preston Ries out of Monticello High School picked up his second college offer from the Iowa Hawkeyes.

In-state class of 2024 product [autotag]Preston Ries[/autotag] picked up his second college offer from the Iowa Hawkeyes. The 6-foot-2, 205 pound athlete is from Monticello High School in Iowa.

After the offer from Iowa, Ries now holds offers from both Iowa and Iowa State. Nebraska and Wisconsin have shown interest as well but are yet to offer Ries.

Ries has played all over the gridiron for Monticello, including quarterback, running back and outside linebacker. According to 247Sports, Ries is a three-star recruit, the No. 74 athlete nationally and the fifth-best player from Iowa in the 2024 class. Rivals also ranks Ries as a three-star prospect.

The offer to Ries continues a recent flurry of offers in the 2024 class from the Hawkeye coaching staff. In addition to Ries, Iowa has offered athlete [autotag]Caleb Benning[/autotag] out of Westside High School in Omaha, Neb., athlete [autotag]Derek Weisskopf[/autotag] from Williamsburg High School in Iowa, tight end [autotag]Christian Bentancur[/autotag] out of Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock, Ill., running back [autotag]Jordan Marshall[/autotag] of Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, and offensive lineman [autotag]Ian Moore[/autotag] from New Palestine High School in Indiana.

Iowa has commitments in the 2024 class from East Buchanan High School offensive lineman Cody Fox in Winthrop, Iowa, and Winfield-Mt. Union High School linebacker Cam Buffington in Winfield, Iowa.

Now that both Iowa and Iowa State have offered Ries, it’s likely his recruitment will pick up in earnest from other power-five programs. Ries reported that his offer came after a conversation with Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz and assistant defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Seth Wallace. It indicates that Iowa views Ries’ future as a linebacker at the next level.

Here’s a look at Ries’ sophomore Hudl highlights at Monticello High School.

2023 DE/EDGE Jordan Allen grabs Iowa Hawkeyes offer

Iowa offered class of 2023 defensive end and EDGE Jordan Allen from Olathe, Kan.

Iowa identified another defensive player it would like to join its 2023 recruiting class. The Hawkeye coaching staff extended an offer to Olathe, Kan., defensive end and EDGE Jordan Allen out of Olathe South.

The 6-foot-4, 240 pound Sunflower State product is ranked as a three-star recruit by 247Sports, the nation’s No. 60 EDGE and the 11th-best player from Kansas. Rivals regards Allen as a three-star weak side defensive end and the No. 11 player from Kansas. Lastly, according to On3, Allen is a three-star EDGE, the No. 780 player overall in the On3 consensus, the No. 51 EDGE and the No. 7 player from Kansas.

Iowa State was the first school to offer Allen back on Feb. 9. South Dakota, New Mexico State, Kansas, Kansas State and Vanderbilt also offered Allen in the month of February. Then, Washington offered Allen last month before Iowa offered Allen this weekend.

Allen would be another nice defensive piece to add to the Hawkeyes’ early defensive commits. If Allen picked Iowa, he would join a list of commits that includes defensive end and EDGE Chase Brackney out of Cherry Creek High School in Colorado, linebacker Ben Kueter from Iowa City High School, defensive back John Nestor from Marist High School in Chicago and defensive lineman Maddux Borcherding-Johnson from Norwalk High School.

According to MaxPreps, Allen finished last season at Olathe South with 56 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, four sacks and one fumble recovery for the Falcons. Here’s a look at his junior season Hudl highlights at Olathe South.

Iowa Hawkeyes offer 2023 OL Joe Otting from Kansas

Iowa offered class of 2023 offensive lineman Joe Otting from Topeka, Kan.

Iowa continued a recent surge in offers to 2023 recruits by offering offensive lineman [autotag]Joe Otting[/autotag] from the Sunflower State. Otting is a 6-foot-4, 265 pound offensive lineman from Hayden High School in Topeka, Kan.

According to 247Sports, Otting is a three-star talent, the country’s No. 41 interior offensive lineman and the No. 7 player from the state of Kansas. Rivals also ranks Otting as a three-star recruit and as the No. 6 player from Kansas.

On3 rates Otting as a three-star prospect, the No. 35 interior offensive lineman and Kansas’ No. 5 player. In the On3 consensus rankings, Otting is the No. 698 player nationally, the No. 58 interior offensive lineman and the No. 7 player from Kansas.

Iowa represented Otting’s ninth college offer according to 247Sports. In addition to the Hawkeyes, Otting holds offers from Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and New Mexico. Iowa joined Baylor and Minnesota as power-five programs to offer Otting in April.

Over the past month, Iowa has offered a number of 2023 recruits. That list includes defensive end and edge [autotag]Will Heldt[/autotag], offensive lineman [autotag]Logan Howland[/autotag], safety and linebacker [autotag]Nigel Glover[/autotag], safety [autotag]King Mack[/autotag], edge rusher and linebacker [autotag]Michael Kilbane[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Arvell Reese[/autotag] and athlete [autotag]Kooper Ebel[/autotag].

Iowa has seven commitments in the 2023 class: quarterback Marco Lainez III, defensive end and edge rusher Chase Brackney, athlete Alex Mota, linebacker Ben Kueter, offensive lineman Leighton Jones, defensive back John Nestor and defensive lineman Maddux Borcherding-Johnson. Iowa’s 2023 recruiting class is currently ranked as the country’s No. 11 class by 247Sports, the No. 12 class by Rivals and the No. 21 class by On3.

The Hawkeyes would love to add Joe Otting’s name to that list of commits and alongside Jones on the interior of its offensive line moving forward. Here’s a look at Otting’s junior season Hudl highlights.

Iowa Hawkeyes offer 2023 in-state athlete Kooper Ebel

Class of 2023 in-state prospect Kooper Ebel picked up an offer from the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Iowa already has three commitments from in-state products in its 2023 recruiting class. Now, Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz and his staff have targeted another talented player from the Hawkeye State.

Kooper Ebel picked up an offer from the Hawkeyes. The 6-foot-3, 200 pound athlete is out of Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School in Hartley, Iowa. Ebel is the tenth player from the state of Iowa to pick up an offer from the Hawkeyes in the 2023 class according to 247Sports’ offers list.

According to 247Sports, Ebel is a three-star recruit, the No. 90 athlete nationally and the No. 10 player from the state of Iowa in the 2023 class. Rivals also ranks Ebel as a three-star product.

Ebel’s recruitment has really begun to pick up steam. According to 247Sports, Iowa became the seventh school to offer Ebel. The others are Iowa State, Illinois State, Northern Iowa, South Dakota, South Dakota State and Vanderbilt. All of these schools have offered in the past three months.

South Dakota and South Dakota State were first on Feb. 4. Then, Illinois State and Northern Iowa offered on Feb. 10 and Feb. 26, respectively. Iowa State offered on March 26 and Vanderbilt offered on April 7.

The in-state commitments Iowa currently has in its 2023 class are Marion High School athlete Alex Mota, Iowa City High School linebacker Ben Kueter and Norwalk High School defensive lineman Maddux Borcherding-Johnson.

In the 2023 class, the Hawkeyes also have commitments from quarterback Marco Lainez III, defensive end and edge rusher Chase Brackney, offensive lineman Leighton Jones and defensive back John Nestor.

Iowa would love to add Ebel to its class. Here’s a look at what Ebel could bring to the table with a look at his Hudl highlights playing defense from his junior season at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School.

Iowa Hawkeyes offer 2023 LB Arvell Reese from Ohio

Iowa offered 2023 linebacker Arvell Reese out of Glenville High School in Cleveland, Ohio.

Iowa has been busy targeting defensive players in the 2023 class. In the past month alone, the Hawkeye coaching staff has offered Nigel Glover, Will Heldt, Michael Kilbane and King Mack. Plus, Iowa picked up its seventh commitment in the 2023 cycle from defensive back John Nestor out of Marist High School in Chicago, Ill.

Arvell Reese became the latest defensive standout to pick up an offer from Iowa. The 6-foot-3, 210 pound linebacker is out of Glenville High School in Cleveland, Ohio.

On3 rates Reese as a four-star recruit and as the nation’s No. 196 player in the 2023 class, the 17th-best linebacker and the No. 6 player from Ohio. According to the On3 consensus rankings, Reese is the country’s No. 211 player overall, the No. 16 linebacker and the fifth-best player from the Buckeye State.

ESPN also ranks Reese as a four-star talent. According to ESPN, Reese is the No. 271 player nationally in the 2023 class, the No. 15 outside linebacker and the No. 5 player from Ohio.

247Sports lists Reese as a four-star prospect, too. Reese is rated as the No. 28 linebacker and the No. 6 player from Ohio in 247Sports’ rankings. The 247Sports composite rankings have Reese as the No. 378 player nationally, the No. 34 linebacker and the eighth-best player from Ohio. Lastly, according to Rivals, Reese is a three-star recruit and the 21st highest-rated player from Ohio.

Reese currently holds 24 offers. Along with Iowa, that list includes fellow Big Ten schools Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Rutgers.

Here’s a look at Reese’s highlights from his junior season at Glenville High School courtesy of Hudl.