For the Penn State football coaching staff, recruiting is not just an essential part of building a successful team; it’s an art form. The Nittany Lions have assembled multiple top-15 and top-10 classes in the James Franklin era. A calling card for Franklin and his staff has been finding undervalued prospects early in the recruiting process, only to have them develop into highly ranked players come signing day. And it appears that the Nittany Lions are at it again, as multiple Penn State commits have shot up the latest 247Sports recruiting rankings for 2024.
Luke Reynolds comes out of nowhere to become the No. 1 TE in 2024
On March 25, Penn State football received a commitment from Connecticut TE Luke Reynolds. At the time, 247Sports had the 6 foot 4.5 inch, 220-pound prospect the No. 911 overall player in the national recruiting rankings for 2024. Reynolds has shot up the rankings since then. The Penn State commit just earned his 5th star and is now the No. 1 TE and No. 29 overall player in 2024. This is another excellent find from Penn State’s scouting department.
Ethan Grunkemeyer is giving off Drew Allar vibes
The background of Ethan Grunkemeyer is eerily similar to that of current Penn State QB Drew Allar. Both QBs started as 3-star recruits and committed to Penn State before many big schools recognized their talent. After attending the Elite 11, both jumped up in the rankings. Both QBs are from Ohio. The duo even share the same quarterback coach.
After a rapid rise this summer, Grunkemeyer has shot up even further in the latest 247Sports recruiting rankings. The 6-foot-2-inch QB is the 98th-ranked player and the 7th-ranked QB in the class.
Penn State is recruiting the QB position at an insanely high level – something necessary to compete with the best teams in college football.
Cooper Cousins is the No. 2 IOL in latest recruiting rankings
Penn State football received an important commitment from in-state IOL Cooper Cousins in January 2022. From Erie, Cousins committed to Penn State over the likes of Wisconsin, Pittsburgh, Toledo, and Kentucky.
Penn State offered Cousins in October 2021; in months, he became the Nittany Lions’ first commitment in 2024. Like many in the Keystone State, Cousins seemed set on playing on the best in-state college football team.
Recently, 247Sports had Cousins as the No. 220 player in the 2024 class. The four-star has now jumped to 119 in the newest rankings. Cousins is the No. 2 IOL in the cycle.
The Penn State commit is 6 foot 6 inches and 315 pounds – a big man who can play inside. It is important for a team to have athletic interior players who can pull and be the lead blocker in a bunch of run plays. Cousins has rare athleticism for his size, which makes him a coveted prospect.
Jon Mitchell jumps 88 spots
Penn State football has prioritized the CB position in recent years. The Nittany Lions’ defensive philosophy involves having DBs who can win one-on-ones. This allows DC Manny Diaz to pressure opposing QBs and capitalize on mistakes. But it all starts with high-level CB play. Kalen King, Johnny Dixon, and Daequan Hardy have done great in Diaz’s system.
Penn State’s coaching staff has continued to recruit talented CBs in the 2024 class. Jon Mitchell, a 6-foot, 177-pound CB from Jacksonville, FL, committed to Penn State football over Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Maryland, Miami, Notre Dame, USC, Wisconsin, and many others. The talented DB is known for his blazing speed – Mitchell is also a great track athlete.
Mitchell’s rating shot up from No. 242 to No. 154 – 88 spot increase – in the latest 247Sports rankings. Another talented CB appears headed to Happy Valley.
Garrett Sexton goes From unranked to top 200
Penn State football is known for its recruiting success in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and New Jersey. That being said, the Nittany Lions have been doing a job job recruiting in Wisconsin. In 2022, Penn State signed a four-star tight end and the No. 5 ranked player in Wisconsin, Jerry Cross.
Now, 3 of the top 5 recruits in Wisconsin for the 2024 cycle are Penn State commits. Four-star OL Garrett Sexton, 4-star RB Corey Smith, and 3-star OL Donovan Harbour all chose the Nittany Lions over other major programs.
The most impactful commitment comes from Garrett Sexton. The Penn State commit is 6-foot-7 inches and 265 pounds, and projects to be an OT. Sexton is the No.1 in the state of Wisconsin. The tackle prospect committed to Penn State football on April 24, 2023.
Sexton was previously unranked. Now, after the latest 247Sports rankings update, Sexton is all the way up to the No. 161 overall player in the class of 2024.
Penn State commits building a strong 2024 class
Penn State’s 2024 class is shaping up to be a good one. The Nittany Lions have 7 top 200 commitments. It will be fun to see how these guys continue to rise in these rankings.
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