Numerous Big Ten, SEC schools now targeting top Penn State football commit

Jaelyne Matthews, the highly regarded offensive tackle and the top Penn State football commit in the 2025 recruiting class, is considered one of the top recruits nationwide. Recently, he has attracted significant attention from several notable programs in both the Big Ten and SEC conferences.

Renowned coaches like Jim Harbaugh and Mel Tucker have set their sights on him, as have prominent schools from the southeastern region of the country.

Major Penn State football commit has become a target for numerous Big Ten and SEC schools

Despite committing to Penn State football some time ago, Jaelyne Matthews has attracted significant attention from regional and national recruiters. Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines was the first to offer Matthews this month, followed by notable offers from other prominent programs.

Since receiving an offer from Michigan, Matthews has also received offers from the Michigan State Spartans under Mel Tucker and the Wisconsin Badgers under Luke Fickell, both of which are Big Ten schools. In addition to these three Big Ten powerhouses, the South Carolina Gamecocks and Florida Gators have expressed interest in recruiting Matthews with offers this month, aiming to lure him away from James Franklin’s grasp.

Despite national attention, Penn State must do all it can to keep Matthews committed

Although Matthews recently visited Penn State football, as indicated on his Twitter account, he is scheduled to visit Georgia and meet with head coach Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs.

It’s worth noting that for committed recruits, taking visits is not uncommon, although it can occasionally lead to a complete change of heart, as seen in the case of Michael Van Buren. This prospect of Matthews exploring other options is somewhat unsettling for the Nittany Lions, who understand the potential impact of visits on recruits; additionally, coach James Franklin typically is against his committed recruits visiting other schools.

According to the ON3 Industry Rankings, Matthews is ranked as the 67th best recruit nationally, the 7th best offensive tackle in the 2025 class, and the top recruit in the state of New Jersey.

He has recently been recognized as one of the top 10 committed players in his class and has played a significant role in bolstering Penn State football’s 2025 class, currently ranking in the top 3 nationally. It is crucial for the Nittany Lions to keep Matthews interested and committed as they continue to pursue high-caliber players to strengthen their roster throughout the upcoming year.

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