BREAKING: Top-20 EDGE with ties to James Franklin commits to Penn State football

For the fifth straight day, the Penn State football team has added a commitment. This one is in the 2025 recruiting class. The Nittany Lions have landed top-20 edge rusher Jayden Woods who shares a connection to head coach James Franklin. After Recruiting experts from On3 placed predictions that Woods would end up in Happy Valley on Wednesday morning.

Jayden Woods is a 6-3 235-pound four-star edge rusher from Shawnee (Kansas). Over the past month, he has traveled around the country taking official visits. He was able to see Wisconsin (May 31), Penn State (June 7), Purdue (June 14), and Tennessee (June 21). Now, that all of his visits are completed he has made his decision and made his commitment official to Penn State football according to Hayes Fawcett of On3.

BREAKING: Four-Star EDGE Jayden Woods has Committed to Penn State, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’4 240 EDGE from Shawnee, KS chose the Nittany Lions over Wisconsin, Tennessee, & Purdue

“Ready and excited to get to work with the best school for edge rushers, Couldn’t be… pic.twitter.com/Jr083zCShY

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 26, 2024

On Wednesday morning, Steve Wilfong and Ryan Snyder of On3 placed two new RPM predictions that Woods will commit to Penn State. According to the On3 Industry Ranking, Woods is a top-5 prospect in Kansas and ranks as a top-20 edge rusher (No. 201 nationally).

James Franklin’s tie to Jayden Woods

Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Jayden’s father Justin Woods played football for Kansas State from 2007-08. Which overlapped with James Franklin and his time with the Wildcats. Franklin served as the offensive coordinator at Kansas State from 2006-07. Now, Justin’s son Jayden will play for Franklin in Happy Valley.

With this addition to the 2025 cycle, the Nittany Lions hold the No. 14 2025 recruiting class in the country according to On3.

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