Penn State football impresses top 10 player in Pennsylvania during recent visit

STATE COLLEGE, PA — The Penn State Nittany Lions are in the middle of their spring practices right now in preparation for the 2023 college football season this fall. Still, James Franklin and the Penn State football coaching staff are hot on the recruiting trail as well, and as of late, the Nittany Lions have been impressing some major 2025 regional recruits, including a top 10 player in Pennsylvania (Brady O’Hara) during his recent weekend visit to State College.

Penn State football is an incredible environment, says 2025 tight end Brady O’Hara

On Saturday, the Penn State football team welcomed 2025 tight end Brady O’Hara back to Happy Valley. O’Hara is a three-star tight end recruit, and is ranked as the No. 19 tight end and the No. 9 player in the state of Pennsylvania by Rivals. Despite claiming to not have much prior connection to Penn State football, O’Hara was thoroughly impressed with the program.

“Two things that stood out to me the most was the energy of the team and how honest Coach [James] Franklin was about the program and the recruiting process,” O’Hara told BWI. “I mostly liked that you could tell he is passionate and he doesn’t tell you what you want to hear. He keeps it real and tells you the way it’s going to be at Penn State. I like that honesty. I also enjoy how he can make jokes.”

Top 10 player in Pennsylvania is already loving the Nittany Lions

Brady O’Hara — who already stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs in over 240 pounds as a 2025 recruit — also has a special bond with one of the Penn State football position coaches.

“I really like Coach Howle. He understands the game very well, especially the footwork since he played line at Penn State,” O’Hara said. “It’s only the second time I have met him, so we are still getting to know each other, but he is very relatable. Today we discussed the basic drills that the players do at practice. We also talked about getting me to a summer camp and a game next season.”

The 2025 recruiting class still seems far out to many, but it is never too early to get a head start — especially when it comes to some of the state’s top prospects. If all goes well, expect O’Hara to end up in the Blue and White far down the road.

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