Penn State football enters battle for rising JUCO pass rusher

James Franklin and Penn State football have entered the mix for a top young defensive prospect from the junior college ranks. This week, the Nittany Lions offered 2025 edge rusher Odera Okaka from the College of San Mateo (California).

Okaka announced the offer on his social media Tuesday morning. Penn State football was the first Power Four program to offer the San Mateo sophomore, with Cal sending out an offer later in the day.

With nine offers to date, other notable interested programs include Oregon State, Boise State, Fresno State, and Akron.

I’m blessed to announce I’ve earned a D1 offer from Penn State University!!! Back to work!!! @ZemaitisTouch_ @coachTcsm @Coach_Sekona @coach_schrider @hardee9596 @tlbutler5 @Ogthetruth @bst_elite @JUCOFFrenzy @JuCoFootballACE @2Ddavis @DMV_Hype @Livin_With_Lips pic.twitter.com/9Gu8Wkexef

— Odera Okaka (@odera_ao) August 20, 2024

As a freshman last fall, Odera Okaka totaled 41 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble, and a blocked kick over San Mateo’s 12 games. Going into 2024, the 6-4, 235-pound Okaka was named a first-team junior college preseason All-American by Rivals.

Coming out of high school, Odera Okaka wasn’t highly evaluated on the national stage. The Pittsburg, California product was rated as a two-star recruit and the No. 212 edge rusher in the country in 247Sports’ 2023 class rankings.

Where does Penn State stand at edge in 2025?

James Franklin and the Nittany Lions currently have two edge rushers pledged to their 17th-ranked 2025 recruiting class. Mill Valley’s (Kansas) Jayden Woods and Riverdale Baptist’s (Maryland) Cortez Harris, both top-ten players from their respective states, committed to Penn State football in June.

The program’s other 2025 edge commit, Max Granville, reclassified to the 2024 cycle in July and joined the Nittany Lions a year early.

Franklin and his staff are also expected to remain in pursuit of the top in-state pass rusher for the 2025 recruiting cycle, Ohio State commit Zahir Mathis, throughout the fall.

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