penn state football recruiting – Syndication Server

Penn State flip target Brandon Finney focusing on his recruitment again

Penn State is hoping to make a final push to flip this recruiting target in their favor.

There are just two weeks until early signing day for class of 2025 prospects, and Penn State is pushing hard to get their current commits officially locked up while also focusing their attention on their top flip targets.

This has been a strange cycle for the Nittany Lions.

Not only have they struggled to land in-state prospects at a rate that hasn’t been seen under [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag], but multiple targets they expected to land have spurned them at the last minute for surprise programs across the country.

That’s the new reality of this NIL era, and will be something Penn State will have to adjust to going forward.

But, Franklin and his staff have done good job staying connecting with recruits who might have picked another schools early on in the process, allowing them to be considered as decision day looms.

Someone at the top of their target board is [autotag]Brandon Finney[/autotag].

The five-star cornerback, as ranked by 247Sports, was one of those prospects who surprisingly committed to another school when Penn State was thought to be the leader in his process. For Finney, that program was Oregon, an NIL-rich school who has become a monster on the recruiting trail.

However, the Nittany Lions have maintained close contact with him, relying on the pipeline that is McDonogh to try and convince him to flip.

Will that happen, though?

Momentum has started to build that suggests Finney could be thinking about changing his pledge, and even though he’s still committed to Oregon, there are starting to be some cracks in that foundation.

With McDonogh’s season now over, Brian Dohn of 247Sports is reporting that the talented cornerback is now focusing on his recruitment again with Oregon, Penn State and Michigan all pushing to add him to their class. What’s interesting is that he could even take his decision past the early signing date and wait until February 2025 to make things official (subscription required).

That could be an advantage for Penn State.

With their second road game in a row this weekend against Minnesota, their last chance to host recruits is the final home game of the season against Maryland that comes on a holiday weekend and is right before Early Signing Day.

If Finney wants to string out his recruitment now that his high school season is over, that could allow the Nittany Lions to make more of a pitch to ultimately land him.

Pennsylvania’s top ’25 edge rusher backs off commitment to Ohio State, can Penn State swoop in?

One of the top players in Pennsylvania has backed off his commitment to Ohio State.

Penn State head coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] likes to keep some of the top recruits in Pennsylvania in the commonwealth, and he may have a second chance to keep one of the top players in the Class of 2025 from leaving the state. [autotag]Zahir Mathis[/autotag], a four-star edge rusher from Imhotep Institute in Philadelphia announced he is backing off his commitment to Ohio State just weeks before the start of the early signing period for college football.

“After much consideration, I’ve decided to reopen my recruitment and decommit from Ohio State,” Mathis said in a message posted on his social media account on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I appreciate Coach Day, Coach Johnson and all the coaches at Ohio State. They are still a top school for me. This is a life decision. Please respect my decision!”

As indicated by Mathis in his message, Ohio State is still a top contender to secure his commitment whenever the time comes for him to lock in his commitment. According to the updated On3 recruiting prediction machine, the Buckeyes are still the overwhelming favorite with a 97.7% chance of receiving his commitment. We will see if that changes at all in light of recent events, but the door is now officially open for Penn State to try keeping one of the state’s top recruits closer to home.

Mathis is the no. 4 overall player in Pennsylvania according to 247Sports and the state’s top-ranked player according to Rivals and ESPN. Naturally, he would be a dream pickup for Penn State if they were able to receive a commitment from Mathis. But Mathis will have plenty of suitors ready to jump in line with his announcement of a de-commitment.

Penn State was the first offer to Mathis back in May 2021.

The early signing period for the Class of 2025 will run from Dec. 4 through Dec. 6.

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Penn State adds 2025 edge rusher Chaz Coleman to their class

Penn State was able to strike in the 2025 class again, adding a promising edge rusher to the class.

Penn State is coming off a great showing against Washington where they completely dominated the Huskies in front of a White Out crowd. That was a huge result for more reasons than one.

Not only were the Nittany Lions able to bounce back and remind everyone they are one of the best teams in college football despite another loss to Ohio State, but there were tons of recruits on campus who were ready to be blown away by the atmosphere and the performance of the program who is recruiting them.

Mission accomplished.

Penn State picked up a commitment from 2025 athlete [autotag]Chaz Coleman[/autotag] who was in Happy Valley for his official visit this past weekend, a trip that will span until Monday.

Ranked as a three-star by On3’s Industry Ranking, the 6-foot-4, 220-pounder plays both quarterback and edge rusher for Warren G Harding High School in the state of the Ohio.

He will be playing on the defensive line for the Nittany Lions during his collegiate career, potentially getting a boost in the ratings once he is viewed specifically as a pash rusher.

Penn State is excited to get him on board.

A really late riser in the process, Coleman didn’t receive his first Power 4 offer until August of this year. The Nittany Lions were even later to extend a scholarship to him, officially offering him one in September. As an athlete who has played multiple positions on the football field and across different sports, [autotag]Deion Barnes[/autotag] and the staff believe he has a high ceiling when it comes to getting after the passer at a high level.

If he can reach that ceiling, this will be a huge get for Penn State.

Their jewel of the edge rusher class, [autotag]Max Granville[/autotag], reclassified to the 2024 class and is already on campus as part of this roster. That left a hole in this group as the Nittany Lions searched for other talented defensive ends.

Coleman could be exactly that, and although he is likely a project at this point in his career, he should be someone to keep an eye on once he arrives to Happy Valley.

Penn State adds top offensive tackle prospect to 2027 class

Penn State bolsters 2027 class with four-star offensive tackle

Penn State received a major commitment right before kickoff for the second straight week. Last weekend, four-star 2026 safety [autotag]Matt Sieg[/autotag] announced his commitment right before the Nittany Lions took on the Buckeyes. About an hour before Penn State’s White Out game against Washington, top 100 2027 offensive tackle [autotag]Layton Von Brandt[/autotag] announced his commitment to the Nittany Lions.

Von Brandt is the No. 4 offensive tackle and No. 42 player in the 2027 class. According to 247Sports, the tackle let James Franklin and the PSU coaching staff know his decision to commit on the field pregame before Saturday’s matchup versus Washington.

The 6-foot-5 lineman picked up an offer from Penn State in May and has been on campus several times since then. He is now Penn State’s second commit in the 2027 class, joining Pennsylvania running back [autotag]Kemon Spell[/autotag]. The Delaware native is the top player in the state and joins Spell as a top 60 prospect nationally.

Von Brandt held offers from nine other schools, including Georgia, Indiana, Rutgers, Syracuse, and West Virginia.

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Penn State adds to their secondary with commitment from 2025 four-star safety

Penn State has added another top-flight player from Pennsylvania to its 2025 class, getting a commitment from four-star safety Matt Sieg.

Penn State’s 2026 recruiting class is shaping up nicely, but they received some more good news during their game against Ohio State. Four-star 2026 safety [autotag]Matt Sieg[/autotag] announced his commitment to the Nittany Lions, adding yet another player top player from their home state of Pennsylvania.

Sieg is one of the best players in the 2026 class, ranked as the No. 3 player in Pennsylvania and the No. 12 safety in the country according to 247sports. He is also the No. 210 player in their composite rankings. Sieg has had an exceptional high school career, leading his Fort Cherry team to a WPIAL championship in 2023.

Sieg could end up playing safety or maybe even receiver thanks to his athleticism and ability with the ball in his hands. He has been a force as a dual-threat quarterback for Fort Cherry, but those skills should translate better at receiver at the next level.

The five-foot-eleven playmaker may also be able to have an impact in the return game with his speed and contact balance. Sieg is the first potential member of the secondary to join the 2026 class, and he may be one of just a few thanks to a stacked 2025 class for Penn State on the back end.

Time will tell where he ultimately fits in for the Nittany Lions, but he has huge upside and even has NFL potential from what he has shown as a recruit. [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] has to be happy about how the 2026 class is coming together.

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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.

Penn State seems to be on the verge of flipping Brandon Finney

Is Penn State football on the verge of flipping this key recruiting target?

There could be some good news coming down the chute for Penn State on the recruiting trail in the 2025 class.

After already flipping one of their targets from the group who was on campus for the UCLA game when Josh Johnson announced his decision to commit to the Nittany Lions, it seems like they are on the verge of pulling off another one.

Chad Simmons of On3 just logged an expert pick where he has elite four-star cornerback [autotag]Brandon Finney[/autotag] flipping from Oregon to Penn State.

This is a huge development for the Nittany Lions in this cycle as the McDonogh School prospect is someone who was at the top of their target board throughout his recruitment. Multiple insiders said [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] and his staff were surprised when he committed to the Ducks, but that did not stop them from continuing to pursue him.

Ranked as the 55th-best player in the 2025 class by On3’s Industry Ranking and a five-star by 247Sports’ personal ratings, Finney would be the best recruit for Penn State in that cycle.

After Penn State was able to get him back on campus for the UCLA game, all signs pointed to things starting to turn in their direction. However, they had to overcome the hurdle of him getting back to Eugene for the massive showdown Oregon had against Ohio State.

That could have ended things if he felt like that was the place for him, but even after taking in that experience, his comments suggested he was still considering the Nittany Lions.

Well, it’s starting to seem like Penn State is going to get this one home eventually.

Penn State continues to push for elite 2025 edge rusher Zahir Mathis

Could Penn State manage to pull off a flip of this Ohio State defensive commit?

Penn State is looking to finish strong in the 2025 cycle after it’s been a strange recruiting process compared to what has occurred for them the past few years.

With multiple decommitments and flips that have taken place, the Nittany Lions are making a final push to land some of their most high-profile targets who originally committed elsewhere.

The majority of the players they are pursuing have been documented, and they were able to pull off one of them already by flipping three-star cornerback Josh Johnson, but there is another recruit who Penn State is continuing to go after.

That would be in-state prospect and current Ohio State commit [autotag]Zahir Mathis[/autotag].

Ranked No. 73 overall in the 2025 class and third in the state of Pennsylvania, the four-star made up his mind early when he announced his commitment to the Buckeyes back in January.

However, the Nittany Lions have stayed on him, getting him back to campus twice during the summer. These efforts seem to be paying off as Sean Fitz of BlueWhiteIllustrated has described Penn State as being on “semi-equal footing” when it comes to where they stand compared to Ohio State (subscription required).

It should be pointed out that Mathis has shown no signs of moving off his commitment despite his two trips to Happy Valley, and with his official visit to Columbus coming up on Oct. 26, there is a chance that solidifies his decision and he shuts everything down before National Signing Day.

But, based on what Fitz is hearing from either the Penn State or Mathis camp, they have put themselves in a good position to potentially flip the Philadelphia native if he comes out of his trip to Ohio State still not fully sold.

This continues to be something to monitor, and while there isn’t as much confidence this will get home like some others who the Nittany Lions are targeting, it’s still a great sign they are being considered nonetheless.

Penn State is still in the mix for elite 2025 recruit Brandon Finney

Penn State is hoping to flip this Oregon commit in the Class of 2025.

While the Penn State coaching staff is certainly using this bye week to get prepared for Wisconsin so the team doesn’t have a letdown following their huge road win over USC last Saturday, they are also using this time to focus on some recruiting targets.

There are plenty of players [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] and his coaches are looking to secure in the 2025 cycle, evident by the number of flip targets they hosted for the UCLA game.

One of those players is elite four-star cornerback [autotag]Brandon Finney[/autotag], someone they thought surely would already be part of their class before he made a shocking announcement that he had committed to Oregon.

But despite that disappointing news, they have not given up hope that he will eventually change his mind and become a Nittany Lion.

They accomplished the first step by getting him back on campus to see a game, and while some intel suggested that visit went extremely well, Finney traveled to Oregon to see their matchup against Ohio State that could have solidified his decision.

However, it sounds like he is still open to the possibility of changing his commitment.

Finney told Chad Simmons of On3 that, while he’s still committed to Oregon, he’s still looking at other schools and specifically mentioned Penn State. His reason for that stems from the relationships he has built with the staff and that he has been a “priority” for them throughout his recruitment (subscription required).

That is huge news for the Nittany Lions.

While nothing changed on his commitment standing, the fact that he came out of that environment where Oregon beat one of the best teams in the country and he’s still not totally locked in means Penn State has a real shot to flip him before National Signing Day.

Ranked as the 55th-best player in the 2025 class and No. 6 at his position per On3’s Industry Ranking, he would become the best prospect for the Nittany Lions in this cycle.

If they’re able to complete this flip by battling one of the most NIL-rich programs in the country, that would be a massive win for Penn State on the recruiting trail.