Tag: Malachi Goodman

Penn State’s Class of 2025 is perfectly balanced, as all things should be

Penn State has signed its Class of 2025, and it’s a solid class.

Penn State may be preparing for the Big Ten championship game this week, but Wednesday was a cause to pause and celebrate the future of the program beyond this season. Wednesday marked the beginning of the early signing period in college football, and Penn State officially inked 26 members for its Class of 2026. With a recruiting class split evenly with 13 offensive players and 13 defensive players, James Franklin and his staff have managed to pull in a balanced class that will continue to sustain what the entire staff has been working to build for the next few seasons.

More than half of this recruiting class is scheduled to enroll early in January. Penn State announced 14 members of its Class of 2025 will be early enrollees, which will allow them to go through offseason workouts and conditioning and participate in spring football practices.

This recruiting class will be one of Franklin’s best overall classes at Penn State as well. A total of 23 of the 26 commits were ranked as a four-star or five-star player by On3, 247Sports, Rivals, or ESPN. The class also spread the Penn State footprint into 10 different states, including 19 from Pennsylvania or a neighboring state.

Among the top-rated recruits in the Class of 2025 are interior offensive lineman [autotag]Malachi Goodman[/autotag] from New Jersey, cornerback [autotag]Daryus Dixson[/autotag] from California, and linebacker [autotag]LaVar Arrington Jr.[/autotag] (yes, THAT LaVar Arrington).

Here is a full list of Penn State’s Class of 2025 that has been signed during the early signing period:

  • DL [autotag]Randy Adirika[/autotag] (Miami, Fla.)
  • OL [autotag]Owen Aliciene[/autotag] (Cheshire, Conn.)
  • LB [autotag]LaVar Arrington Jr.[/autotag] (Annapolis, Md.)
  • DL [autotag]Dayshaun Burnett[/autotag] (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
  • DL [autotag]Chaz Coleman[/autotag] (Warren, Ohio)
  • RB [autotag]Jabree Coleman[/autotag] (Darby Township, Pa.)
  • WR [autotag]Jeff Exinor Jr.[/autotag] (Baltimore, Md.)
  • OL [autotag]Malachi Goodman[/autotag] (Bloomfield, N.J.)
  • DL [autotag]Cortez Harris[/autotag] (Largo, Md.)
  • RB [autotag]Tikey Hayes[/autotag] (Aliquippa, Pa.)
  • TE [autotag]Matt Henderson[/autotag] (Powhatan, Va.)
  • WR [autotag]Koby Howard[/autotag] (Pensacola, Fla.)
  • DB [autotag]Joshua Johnson[/autotag] (Ironton, Ohio)
  • DB [autotag]Jahmir Joseph[/autotag] (Nyack, N.Y.)
  • DL [autotag]Yvan Kemajou[/autotag] (Burtonsville, Md.)
  • TE [autotag]Brian Kortovich[/autotag] (Willoughby, Ohio)
  • QB [autotag]Bekkem Kritza[/autotag] (Chandler, Ariz.)
  • OL [autotag]Brady O’Hara[/autotag] (Mars, Pa.)
  • WR [autotag]Matt Outten[/autotag] (Portsmouth, Va.)
  • WR [autotag]Lyrick Samuel[/autotag] (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
  • LB [autotag]Cam Smith[/autotag] (Salem, N.J.)
  • LB [autotag]Alex Tatsch[/autotag] (Latrobe, Pa.)
  • DB [autotag]Braz Thomas[/autotag] (Glassboro, N.J.)
  • DB [autotag]Xxavier Thomas[/autotag] (Canonsburg, Pa.)
  • OL [autotag]Michael Troutman III[/autotag] (Trenton, N.J.)

The focus will now shift to the transfer portal as Penn State’s offseason roster changes could be continuing in the coming weeks amidst its Big Ten and College Football Playoff push.

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Penn State gets massive commitment from 2025 four-star offensive lineman

Penn State picked up another big commitment this week, this time beefing up the offensive line.

Not only did Penn State get their season started with a bang when dominating West Virginia on the road to silence some of the critics, they were able to utilize that performance to help themselves on the recruiting trail.

Almost immediately after the game on Saturday finished, the Nittany Lions got some great news when wide receiver [autotag]Matthew Outten[/autotag] flipped his commitment from Virginia Tech to Penn State.

Whether it was the offense looking much better that made him think he could envision himself playing in this program or not, landing the productive high school wide out is important for [autotag]Marques Hagans[/autotag] in the 2025 cycle.

However, that wasn’t the only big news on the recruiting trail coming out of Week 1.

Longtime offensive lineman recruit [autotag]Malachi Goodman[/autotag] has made up his mind.

https://twitter.com/Hayesfawcett3/status/1830999979948941393

This is a massive recruiting win for [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] and his staff as they were able to land the third-highest ranked player in the state of New Jersey, beating out the likes of Auburn, USC, Alabama and Georgia who he also took official visits to earlier in the summer.

“The biggest factor was development. The main reasons I committed to Penn State are the coaching staff, how I feel about the offensive line group and I like Coach [Phil Trautwein] a lot,” he said per Ryan Snyder of On3.

At 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, he is considered to have a high ceiling based on his young age that allows plenty of room to grow once he starts working with the staff at Penn State.

Rated as a four-star recruit in the class of 2025, he comes in at No. 130 in the cycle according to On3’s Industry Ranking which now makes him the highest-rated player in the Nittany Lions’ class.

Four-star offensive tackle lists USC in top three schools

USC is trying to secure the kinds of recruiting wins it needs to change the landscape.

The USC Trojans are in a battle with the Penn State Nittany Lions and Auburn Tigers for one of the nation’s top offensive linemen. Four-star offensive tackle Malachai Goodman from Paramus Catholic HS in New Jersey has named USC football as one of the three finalists for his commitment.

“There is no order with the three schools,” Goodman said in an interview with On3. “At all three schools, it is the offensive line group and the coaching staffs that stand out tells On3’s Chad Simmons

Goodman is the 125th-ranked player in his class on 247 Sports, the sixth-ranked at his position and the third-ranked player from New Jersey.

Penn State holds the slight edge for Goodman according to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine while Auburn has a 13% chance and USC sits at 10.9%. USC offensive line coach Josh Henson is trying to build momentum on the trail and get USC to a point where it is not only accumulating big-fish-type players but is walling off other Big Ten programs such as Penn State from getting more of them.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C8kcRTvS9RT/?img_index=1

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Auburn lands in final three for 2025 OT Malachi Goodman

Goodman is a prime candidate to become Auburn’s six offensive line commit of the 2025 cycle.

Auburn football is looking to add another talented offensive lineman to its 2025 recruiting class and has its sights set on a four-star tackle from New Jersey.

[autotag]Malachi Goodman[/autotag], a four-star OT from Paramus, New Jersey, tells On3’s Chad Simmons that he plans to announce his commitment later this month ahead of the start of college football season, and will choose between three programs: USC, Penn State, and Auburn.

“There is no order with the three schools,” Goodman said in an interview with On3. “At all three schools, it is the offensive line group and the coaching staffs that stand out.”

Ahead of Goodman’s commitment date, Auburn has five offensive line commits as part of their 2025 haul. [autotag]Tavaris Dice[/autotag] leads the way as Auburn’s top tackle commitment followed by [autotag]Broderick Shull[/autotag] and [autotag]Spencer Dowland[/autotag]. [autotag]Tai Buster[/autotag] and [autotag]JaCobe Ward[/autotag] are projected to be interior linemen for the Tigers.

Simmons shares insight on the offensive line situation between USC and Penn State. The Trojans have three offensive linemen while Penn State has two commitments. Penn State holds the slight edge for Goodman according to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine due to their desire to fill a need at the position.

Goodman is a top-25 offensive tackle from the 2025 recruiting cycle and ranks as high as No. 3 from New Jersey.

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Elite 2025 offensive lineman says Penn State ‘feels like family’

Penn State is sitting in a good spot for a key offensive line recruiting target in the Class of 2025.

With Penn State looking to fill out their 2025 recruiting class, there are still people on the offensive line [autotag]Phil Trautwein[/autotag] is targeting ahead of their commitment dates.

Following official visit season, some recruits are ready to announce their decisions after making up their minds while others are still deciding which direction they want to go for their collegiate careers.

[autotag]Malachi Goodman[/autotag] is in the latter camp.

The four-star offensive lineman is down to five schools and he took official visits to see all of them. USC was the last place he saw, and he is going to sit back and figure out what program he wants to join after discussions with his family and high school coaches.

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, he would be a major addition for Penn State as they currently sit with just two offensive line commits ([autotag]Owen Aliciene[/autotag] and [autotag]Michael Troutman[/autotag]) despite thinking Bray O’Hara will eventually shift into being an offensive tackle.

Goodman would become their top-rated lineman as he is listed at No. 102 overall and 11th at his position.

It doesn’t sound like a decision will be coming from the big tackle anytime soon. He told Brian Dohn of 247Sports that he is targeting late-July or August for his announcement as that would give him time to think about his decision and where he wants to play. Development, education and stability are what he’s looking for in a school, and he had some glowing things to say about [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] and Trautwein before saying the program feels like home and is family (subscription required).

To get this done, Penn State will have to beat out Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, and USC, all national brands with plenty to offer.

On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine lists the Nittany Lions as the favorite to land Goodman, but this is going to be a tough one to land.

Still, with the extended decision period, that should help Penn State continue to stand out for him as they continue to stay in contact and make sure he knows the Nittany Lions are a more-than-viable option.

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Four-star offensive lineman gives great feedback after Penn State visit

Four-star offensive lineman target had positive things to say about Penn State following his recent visit.

Feedback is starting to come out following the first big official visit weekend that Penn State hosted where many of their top targets made the trip to Happy Valley. Even though zero commitments were landed, it was still a positive visit for the staff and the players who came to campus.

With June filled more many of the uncommitted recruits across the country, the Nittany Lions had to present themselves as a top choice for those who still are taking trips elsewhere.

One of their top offensive line targets, [autotag]Malachi Goodman[/autotag], was one of the most high-profile players who took his official visit to Penn State this past weekend.

He’s been on campus multiple times, so this was a chance for the Nittany Lions to continue building further relationships with him and his family, while also allow him to bond with the current players.

In his conversation with Brian Dohn of 247Sports, that was accomplished as he enjoyed his time hanging out with those already on the roster by playing basketball video games. He said that he had a good time doing those things and that’s what stood out to him. He also called his relationship with the coaches “genuine” and likes Penn State because of that (subscription required).

Goodman is a 6-foot-5, 310-pound offensive guard from New Jersey who is ranked as the 124th player in the country by 247Sports and No. 6 at his position.

He’s been busy traveling around the country to see multiple programs, having already visited Illinois and Auburn with visits to Georgia, Alabama, and USC on the docket next.

Penn State put themselves in a great spot coming out of his official visit this past weekend, but it’s going to take a strong effort to keep themselves at the top of his list.

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2025 4-star offensive lineman set to visit Auburn this weekend

2025 Four-star offensive lineman Malachi Goodman is reportedly set to visit the Plains this weekend from May 17-19.

2025 Four-star offensive lineman Malachi Goodman is reportedly set to visit the Plains this weekend from May 17-19. The Paramus, NJ native is not only a highly touted recruit, but specifically a desired prospect in the SEC, as Alabama, Auburn, and Georgia have all officially sent an offer to the 6-foot-5 star lineman.

The SEC trio is joined by Big 10 programs USC and Penn State on Goodman’s offer list, but the Tigers will be the first school to host him this summer. If Hugh Freeze and company are able to land the high school senior it would be an immediate boost to an already decent looking 2025 recruiting class.

With Goodman set to visit all five aforementioned schools this summer before competing in his senior season for Paramus Catholic, his decision is probably a decent amount of time away. Still, a successful visit on the Plains this weekend could help sway Goodman towards the orange and blue once signing day rolls around.

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Top-rated offensive lineman details latest visit to UF

The Florida Gators hosted 4-star interior lineman for an official visit back in January.

The Florida Gators have been hosting a plethora of top-rated recruits throughout the duration of spring practices, and a top-rated interior lineman from Paramus, New Jersey detailed all the goods from his recent visit with the program.

Four-star lineman [autotag]Malachi Goodman[/autotag] sat down with Swamp247 to reveal what went down ever since he received his offer from Florida on Jan. 17.

“It was my first time over there,” Goodman said. “It was a cool place. I had a good visit at Florida. The campus and facilities were all nice, and the coaches were really welcoming.”

Goodman is claiming that he wants to wrap up his tour of different programs before narrowing down his choices of top schools.

“I feel like I have to visit the rest of the schools that I am going to try to before I can answer who stands out or who I like,” Goodman said. “Also will be able to answer who I want to take an official visit to. I just need to visit more schools before I can make any top schools.”

All that aside, the high school junior was able to have a sit down with Florida offensive staff members like offensive coordinator Rob Sale, line coach John DeCoster, and former offensive line coach Darnell Stapleton, who has since moved on to the NFL with the Washington Commanders.

“(Stapleton) was the main coach I was talking to, but it’s going good getting to know Coach Sale. I feel like we are building a connection. I like (DeCoster), he seems pretty cool. I like that they have two offensive line coaches there. Watching the practice, I like how intense and fast-paced they are.”

Malachi Goodman is a four-star recruit from Paramus Catholic High (New Jersey). He’s currently rated by 247Sports as the No. 113 prospect in the nation while ranking at No. 8 for interior offensive lineman. Goodman is sitting on offers from USC, Michigan, Penn State, and Ohio State.

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Michigan football to receive visit from rising 2025 offensive lineman

He’s got some big-time offers! #GoBlue

Michigan’s heavy targets in the 2025 recruiting class are starting to take place, and Sherrone Moore is hard at work with his staff to ensure Michigan is in on as many prospects as possible.

Of course, the new head coach spent years working with the offensive line, so beefing up the front five will always be a prime goal for Michigan. In fact, the Wolverines recently gained some good news on the trail when 2025 offensive lineman Malachi Goodman announced he would visit Ann Arbor in late March.

Take a look at the nine trips on Goodman’s swing through the country.

Goodman is unranked on the 247Sports composite, but that shouldn’t be the case much longer because he boasts an impressive offer list. The 6-foot-5 offensive lineman has a national offer sheet featuring Miami, Georgia, Ohio State, USC and more. With all those options, it’ll be tough for Michigan to land a commitment, but getting him on campus early in the process is certainly a win. Hopefully the Wolverines can make an impression and get into his good graces as his stock continues to rise.

The youngster from New Jersey has a number of reasons to go to Michigan. The offensive line development has been off the charts for the Wolverines in recent years. Michigan sent six offensive linemen to this year’s NFL combine, won back-to-back Joe Moore Awards in 2021 and 2022 and produced a half dozen NFL starters.

If Michigan fans feel a twinge of nostalgia at the mention of his high school, they would be more than justified. Paramus Catholic High School has sent two five-stars to Michigan in recent years: Both Jabrill Peppers and Rashan Gary hail from the Garden State powerhouse. Of course, both Peppers and Gary went on to be first-round picks and successful NFL players, so Goodman has good reason to consider the Wolverines.

MSU football is latest power program to offer 2025 New Jersey OL Malachi Goodman

MSU football is the latest power program to extend a scholarship offer to a 2025 offensive lineman prospect from New Jersey

Michigan State football is the latest power program to extend a scholarship offer to a 2025 offensive lineman prospect from New Jersey.

Malachi Goodman of Paramus, N.J. announced on Thursday that he’s received a scholarship offer from the Spartans. Goodman is an interior offensive lineman prospect in the 2025 class.

Goodman is not currently rated on 247Sports but has picked up a ton of recent attention on the recruiting trail. He holds scholarship offers from more than 20 programs, according to 247Sports. Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Illinois, Florida and USC have all offered him since the start of 2024.

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