No. 1 EDGE, top 20 recruit in 2025 locks in Penn State football visit

With the January contact period opening on Friday, it’s now full speed ahead for Penn State football for recruiting in the 2025 cycle. The Nittany Lions already have multiple visits scheduled over the coming weeks, including several dates with some of the top players in the upcoming class. Soon, James Franklin and Deion Barnes will have a crack at the No. 1 EDGE recruit in the nation, as top-20 prospect Ari Watford has locked in a visit for early February.

No. 1 EDGE in class of 2025 locks in visit to Penn State

Penn State football had legitimate pro talent at defensive end in 2023. The Nittany Lions produced two potential early-round NFL Draft picks in Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac, with former five-star Dani Dennis-Sutton also coming into his own.

With returning veterans Dennis-Sutton, Zuriah Fisher, Amin Vanover, and Smith Vilbert, as well as up-and-comers like Jameial Lyons, the room appears to be in good position heading into 2024.

But James Franklin and Deion Barnes already have their sights set on an elite defensive end talent in the 2025 cycle. This week, 247Sports confirmed that Ari Watford, the No. 1 EDGE in the class of 2025, is set to visit the Penn State football program on February 3. The visit comes one week after Watford makes a trip to Clemson on January 27.

4⭐️ EDGE Ari Watford, the Class of 2025's No. 1 player in Virginia, will visit Clemson at the end of the month before visiting Penn State the first weekend of February, via @TomLoy247 🏈

PROFILE: https://t.co/4lqbOQ7BhU

STORY: https://t.co/zCOii5cnn1 pic.twitter.com/96wN3KcrtS

— 247Sports (@247Sports) January 10, 2024

Ari Watford is well on his way to becoming a five-star prospect. In addition to being the No. 1 EDGE in his cycle, the On3 Industry Rankings also place Watford as the top player out of Virginia and the No. 20 overall player in 2025.

The Maury (Norfolk) product has already caught the attention of some of the most prominent scouts in the recruiting industry. “[Watford] can be an impact player at a high-level college program,” writes 247Sports National Recruiting Analyst Brian Dohn. “[He has] potential to be an early-round NFL draft pick.”

Ari Watford would be a massive get for Deion Barnes

While there is still a long way to go in this recruitment, a commitment from Ari Watford would be a significant step for second-year defensive line coach Deion Barnes.

Barnes helped to secure several notable prospects in the 2024 cycle, including Liam Andrews and Mylachi Williams. However, Barnes hasn’t landed a player with Watford’s potential since taking over the job last year.

Watford would also help to shore up the defensive front with other top recruits now off the board. On Wednesday, Penn State football missed out on EDGE Zahir Mathis, the No. 1 recruit in Pennsylvania for the 2025 cycle, who committed to Ohio State.

The Nittany Lions have other top prospects in the 2025 cycle expected to visit in the coming weeks, as well. On January 20, James Franklin will host Kainoa Winston, cousin of Penn State starting safety KJ Winston, who is the No. 26 overall recruit in the class of 2025.

With seven commitments, the Nittany Lions currently have the No. 13 class in 2025, according to On3.

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