Penn State football kicks off Tuesday morning with regional commitment

STATE COLLEGE, PA — On Tuesday, the Penn State Nittany Lions got back to work on the recruiting trail, picking up a brand new addition to their 2025 recruiting class. This morning, Omari Gaines out of Newark, NJ, announced his commitment to play for Penn State football.

1000% COMMITTED TO THE PENN STATE UNIVERSITY?? Nowhere near done. #WeAre #BrickCityLions4L #AGTG @coachnazoliver @BigBody_Nas8 @RivalsRichie @RyanSnyderOn3 @TodderickHunt @CoachTerryPSU @coachjfranklin @ChadSimmons_ @KeepItABuckPod1 @Coach_GetWright @RivalsFriedman @BrianDohn247 pic.twitter.com/QxOGDRHIKN

— OmariGaines? (@omarigaines_) March 28, 2023

Penn State football improves its 2025 recruiting class with the addition of Omari Gaines

The Penn State football team now has two players committed in its 2025 recruiting class: Omari Gaines and Jaelyne Matthews. The Nittany Lions’ newest commitment, Omari Gaines, is graded as a three-star prospect by rivals, though is yet to be evaluated by other major recruiting sites.

According to Rivals, Gaines is a three-star athlete and ranks as the No. 40 athlete in the 2025 recruiting class, and the No. 19 player in the state of New Jersey. At 6-foot-3, 175-pounds, Gaines boasts a sizable frame and the athleticism to match; by the end of the class — depending on how his junior season goes — we would not be surprised if he is a three or four-star recruit on most or all major sites.

Penn State football beat out a few other programs for Gaines’ commitment — such as Rutgers and Duke — though seeing as he took seven total visits and five were to Penn State, the commitment felt like it was just a matter of time.

“It’s a college town. I really like the vibe there,” Gaines told BWI. “I really like how much they stress academics. It’s not just all about football with them. Your life after football is just as important. But I visited probably five or six times. I feel like I’ve built that relationship with the coaches. I like everything about the school, so I couldn’t think of any reason to wait. This is where I want to be.”

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