Ex-Penn State football commit picks new Big Ten team in second commitment

A one-time Penn State football commit is back in the recruiting class of a Big Ten program after announcing his second commitment this week. On Tuesday, four-star New Jersey offensive lineman Jaelyne Matthews made his pledge to the in-state Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Matthews decommitted from James Franklin and the Nittany Lions in September after becoming the first member of the program’s 2025 recruiting class earlier in 2023.

Ex-Penn State commit Jaelyne Matthews chooses Rutgers in second commitment

Almost nine months to the day since reopening his commitment, Toms River North offensive tackle Jaelyne Matthews took his name off the board again, committing to Rutgers on Tuesday.

Rutgers was not believed to be a finalist in the four-star’s recruitment as recently as last week. Matthews provided a top-three list to Rivals on Friday, which included Georgia, Miami, and Tennessee.

🚨BREAKING🚨 4-star OT Jaelyne Matthews has committed to Rutgers🗡

More from @ChadSimmons_: https://t.co/ZJzzst9tIC pic.twitter.com/EvhfjOnbEd

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) June 11, 2024

“This has been a difficult decision, as I have the utmost respect for the university, its coaches, and the entire Penn State community,” Jaelyne Matthews wrote upon decommitting from James Franklin and the Nittany Lions in September.

While he was a member of the Nittany Lions 2025 recruiting class, Matthews was the top player in New Jersey and the No. 11 offensive tackle in the nation, according to On3. Now, the site’s Industry Rankings have him as the 10th-ranked prospect in the Garden State and the No. 24 offensive tackle in the country.

State of the Nittany Lions’ 2025 recruiting class

Just as he was the program’s first commitment, Jaelyne Matthews was the first decommitment for Penn State football in the 2025 recruiting cycle.

James Franklin and the Nittany Lions have only lost one other recruit in the 2025 cycle so far: New Jersey safety Omari Gaines, who left the class in March. Last month, Gaines announced his commitment to Stanford.

After a quiet spring with only two commitments from March through May, Penn State football appears to have shaken off the rust as summer gets into full swing. On Monday, the Nittany Lions landed top 100 cornerback Daryus Dixson. The Mater Dei (California) defensive back is now the highest-ranked commitment in Penn State’s 2025 recruiting class.

With the latest addition, Penn State football is up to 14 commitments in the 2025 cycle. The Nittany Lions’ class moved three spots and is now ranked No. 13 nationally in On3’s Industry Team Rankings. 247Sports has the Blue and White one notch above, sitting at No. 12.

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