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Penn State football legacy linebacker target returns for junior day visit

Penn State football hosted a rising legacy linebacker prospect this past weekend. Can James Franklin secure this prospect to carry on the LBU tradition?

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Penn State football, LaVar Arrington II, 2025 recruiting
Nov 4, 2023; College Park, Maryland, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Abdul Carter (11) celebrates after sacking Maryland Terrapins quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa (3) dung the first half at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Penn State football team hosted key prospects in the 2025 and 2026 recruiting classes. But more is on the line when a player happens to be a Penn State legacy target. That’s where Colsen Gatten found himself this weekend as he returned to Happy Valley for a junior day visit. Gatten also happens to be a Pennsylvania native and played high school football with current Nittany Lions Peter Gonzalez and Anthony Speca at Central Catholic.

Penn State football legacy linebacker target returns for junior day visit

Colsen Gatten is a rising star linebacker in the 2026 recruiting class. A current three-star prospect, Gatten is listed as the No. 11 prospect in Pennsylvania and the 26th linebacker in the 2026 cycle according to On3. As a native of Pittsburgh, PA Gatten found himself back in Happy Valley this past weekend. This was confirmed on Twitter/X by his Central Catholic teammate Maceo Watkins Jr. a 2026 ATH.

Gatten is the son of Aaron Gatten who played linebacker for Penn State for four years. In 2000, Aaron had a phenomenal senior season finishing with 51 tackles and starting seven games. He went on to sign with the Miami Dolphins in 2001 as a free agent. Now, James Franklin has a chance to recruit another legacy prospect from Pennsylvania in Closen Gatten.

Where do the Nittany Lions stand with a different legacy prospect?

Penn State is also in contention for another legacy prospect. Michael Carroll an interior offensive lineman in the 2025 recruiting class has a big decision to make in the upcoming weeks. Carroll is the son of Michael Carroll Sr. who also played linebacker in Happy Valley in the 1990s.

Carroll is known as one of the top interior offensive linemen in the country in the 2025 cycle. On3 ranks him as the No. 2 player in the Keystone State and the 27th player overall in the nation. He is down to four schools which include Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, and Penn State. Carroll is slated to take his official visit to State College on June 14.



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Former Editor-In-Chief at Victory Bell Rings, Morgan is the current Site Manager for Basic Blues Nation, host of the Basic Blues Podcast, and co-host of the weekly Penn State Roar Room spaces. Morgan lives in upstate New York with his wife and cats.

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