Penn State football legacy prospect visits SEC power

Penn State football is coming off a busy month on the recruiting trail. James Franklin and his coaching staff have connected with some of their top targets in 2025 and 2026 in Happy Valley and on the road in recent weeks. But the Nittany Lions will have to contend with the defending SEC champions for one rising in-state prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle, who happens to be the son of a former Penn State football player. This weekend, top 2025 LB Anthony Sacca made his first trip to Tuscaloosa to visit the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Penn State football legacy Anthony Sacca visits new staff at Alabama

Even without his lineage, Anthony Sacca would likely be one of the top targets for Penn State football in the 2025 recruiting cycle. The St. Joseph’s Prep LB is the No. 4 player in Pennsylvania and within the top 30 at his position nationally for the 2025 cycle per the On3 Industry Rankings. But Sacca has deep ties to the Nittany Lions, with his father, Tony Sacca, starting at QB under Joe Paterno in the 1990s.

Since offering the rising senior in 2021, Anthony Sacca has made three visits to Happy Valley. Most recently, the Penn State football legacy was on campus for the Nittany Lions’ junior day on January 20.

🦁 pic.twitter.com/fvMq1T030I

— Anthony Sacca (@saccaanthony) January 23, 2024

But a new player is in the mix for Sacca’s commitment. Over the weekend, Anthony Sacca made the trip down south to Alabama. It was the LB’s first visit to Tuscaloosa, only being offered by Kalen DeBoer and the new Crimson Tide coaching staff last week.

Although Ohio State and Notre Dame are also believed to be contenders, Penn State and Alabama were the only two visits Sacca made during the January recruiting period.

RTR🐘 pic.twitter.com/vI2SibX5NJ

— Anthony Sacca (@saccaanthony) February 3, 2024

Sacca recently earned an offer from former Penn State DC Manny Diaz at Duke, as well.

James Franklin lands four-star in-state LB in 2025 cycle

While Anthony Sacca was visiting Alabama this weekend, James Franklin and the Nittany Lions made headway with another top in-state LB in the 2025 recruiting cycle. On Sunday evening, Penn State football earned a commitment from Greater Latrobe LB Alex Tatsch. A four-star, Tatsch is the No. 9 player in Pennsylvania for 2025.

Penn State football has nine commitments in the 2025 recruiting cycle, four of which are from in-state prospects. The Nittany Lions’ class ranks No. 6 nationally in the 247Sports composite rankings, while it dips to No. 13 according to On3.

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