‘Must get’ Penn State football legacy becomes top 100 prospect

Several Penn State football commits and targets saw their stock rise with the release of updated On300 recruiting rankings this week. But one target may carry more symbolic weight for the Nittany Lions in the 2025 recruiting cycle. On Monday, Central Bucks East IOL Michael Carroll jumped nearly 50 spots into the top 100 of On3’s national rankings. The Penn State legacy and in-state recruit has recently been called a “must get” prospect by James Franklin.

Penn State football legacy jumps into top 100 of national rankings

Michael Carroll has been turning heads in the recruiting world over the last year. When he picked up his offer from Penn State football in June, Carroll was unevaluated by three of the four major recruiting services. Now, On3 has the Central Bucks East product as one of the top recruits in the nation.

With the release of the latest On300 rankings Monday, Michael Carroll is now the No. 69 overall prospect in the country, up 48 slots from his previous ranking of 117. Carroll held firm as the No. 3 IOL in the nation for the 2025 recruiting cycle. He is currently rated as the third-best prospect in Pennsylvania, right behind Penn State commit Alex Tatsch and fellow Nittany Lion target Matt Zollers.

Thankful to be ranked Number #69 Player in the 🌎 Top 3 IOL ‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/LO3n0xzrjT

— Michael Carroll 4⭐️ (@BIIGMIKE_55) February 26, 2024

Carroll is the son of Michael Carroll Sr., who played linebacker for Penn State football in the late 1990s. His connections to the program and status as one of the top recruits in the Keystone State have made Carroll a priority target for James Franklin and the Nittany Lions in the 2025 recruiting cycle.

“They talked about how much they wanted me and how Coach [James] Franklin said I am a ‘must-get’ prospect for them,” Carroll said of the Penn State coaching staff after his most recent visit to Happy Valley last month.

Who are the other key players in the recruitment of Michael Carroll?

While James Franklin and Penn State football may currently have the upper hand, earning a commitment from the Nittany Lions’ legacy is anything but a done deal. Michael Carroll currently has 19 offers, primarily from Big Ten and SEC schools.

Michigan has long been considered the primary contender to the Nittany Lions in this recruitment. While Carroll has been to Happy Valley six times, he’s made three trips to Ann Arbor, tied for second-most. He last visited the Wolverines on November 25.

I had an amazing time at Michigan!! #GOBLUE 〽️ @Coach_SMoore pic.twitter.com/wWJd4loCKv

— Michael Carroll 4⭐️ (@BIIGMIKE_55) November 25, 2023

Another key player is South Carolina. Carroll visited the Gamecocks on January 20, his only other visit outside of Penn State in the early 2024 window.

Wow! I had an amazing time at South Carolina, thank you to all the coaches for the hospitality! @SamSerbay @CoachTeasley @Pete_Lembo @CBEastFootball pic.twitter.com/YXzEGOb7Dn

— Michael Carroll 4⭐️ (@BIIGMIKE_55) January 21, 2024

There’s also another legacy aspect at play in this recruitment, as Carroll’s mother played basketball at Michigan State. The four-star recruit picked up an initial offer from the Spartans in June, and was reoffered by the new Michigan State coaching staff in January.

After an amazing conversation with @FBCoachM I am blessed to be Re-Offered by @MSU_Football Thank you for the opportunity!! pic.twitter.com/SkjGwCygAM

— Michael Carroll 4⭐️ (@BIIGMIKE_55) January 21, 2024

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