Penn State football, future Nittany Lions QB unveil new recruiting pitch for PA’s top WR before SEC visit

The message out of Happy Valley this week is simple: We want Lex. However, Penn State football is creatively driving the point home to Lex Cyrus, the top in-state wide receiver in the 2025 recruiting cycle. On Wednesday, hours before Cyrus’s scheduled visit to South Carolina, 2025 quarterback commitment Bekkem Kritza took to social media to let the Gamecocks know that the Nittany Lions don’t plan on letting the four-star receiver leave the Keystone State without a fight.

Bekkem Kritza helps kick off recruiting campaign for Lex Cyrus

Thursday, Susquehanna Township wide receiver Lex Cyrus will head to Columbia to start his official visit weekend with Shane Beamer and the South Carolina Gamecocks. Cyrus is coming off his official visit with Penn State football last weekend, the only other program the four-star prospect will see this June.

Still just days removed from Happy Valley, the Nittany Lions want to ensure they stay fresh in Cyrus’s mind. Wednesday afternoon, 2025 Penn State quarterback commit Bekkem Kritza went on social media to make sure Cyrus doesn’t forget about the Nittany Lions.

With the help of the Penn State football graphics department, Kritza posted a picture of the State Theatre in downtown State College with a photoshopped marquee sign that reads, “We want Lex Cyrus.”

We Want LEX‼️🦁🏠

Come home family!!@lexcyrus8 pic.twitter.com/x5e0YpsEGk

— Bekkem Kritza (@stretch2025) June 6, 2024

But more than just a reminder to Lex Cyrus, there is a subtle jab at South Carolina thrown in, as well. The State Theatre marquee sign was a reference to The Cotton Gin in Columbia, where many prominent South Carolina athletes are featured on the bar’s “Cotton Gin Spotlight” marquee.

This includes former St. Joseph’s Prep safety Keenan Nelson Jr., who chose the Gamecocks over the in-state Nittany Lions in 2021. Nelson was featured on the Cotton Gin Spotlight last November, only to transfer to Ohio State this spring.

Oh, now I remember where I saw this before… https://t.co/crZFKRvwAX pic.twitter.com/DtWUkWWVpH

— Ryan Snyder (@RyanSnyderOn3) June 6, 2024

Much like Nelson, Lex Cyrus visits South Carolina after his trip to Happy Valley. But this time, with the help of Bekkem Kritza, Penn State football is out to prove history won’t repeat itself in the 2025 recruiting cycle.

Where does Penn State football stand with the state’s top wide receiver?

Obviously, to pull a bold stunt like this, James Franklin and the Nittany Lions have to feel pretty good about their chances of landing Lex Cyrus.

While last week’s visit was his first since November, Cyrus has now visited Penn State six times. South Carolina will become the only other school he’s seen more than once this weekend.

Within 90 minutes of State College, Cyrus has long been viewed as a Nittany Lion lean, crystal-balled by 247Sports to Penn State in February. With no more visits on the calendar after this weekend,  a decision may not be too far away.

Just outside the top 100 prospects nationally, Lex Cyrus is the No. 5 player in Pennsylvania and the No. 17 wide receiver in the 2025 recruiting cycle, according to On3. As a junior, Cyrus caught 67 passes for 1,115 yards and 13 touchdowns for Susquehanna Township.

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