Penn State out of the mix for top TE following canceled visit

Penn State football has picked up significant momentum on the 2026 recruiting trail in recent weeks. But that doesn’t mean James Franklin and the Nittany Lions have been able to land every top target on their big board.

Rivals national recruiting analyst Greg Smith reported on Wednesday that the Nittany Lions are now out of the running for Dunlap (IL) tight end Mack Sutter. The four-star prospect decided to forgo his official visit to Happy Valley, which was scheduled for last weekend.

In February, Penn State was included among Sutter’s five final schools. He will now choose between in-state Illinois, Ole Miss, Ohio State, and Alabama.

NEWS: Elite four-star TE Mack Sutter did not take his OV to Penn State last weekend. He'll pick between these four schools. A return trip to Illinois for camp with his brother on 6/18 is coming ahead of his OV to Bama on 6/20. pic.twitter.com/Z0vJyFmhTm

— Greg Smith (@GregSmithRivals) June 11, 2025

The No. 6 tight end in the country, Sutter is the No. 99 recruit in the 2026 class, per the On3 Industry Rankings.

Even with the loss of Tyler Warren, Penn State football still has a tight end room that is loaded with talent in 2025 and moving forward. Khalil Dinkins, Luke Reynolds, and Andrew Rappleyea all figure to be reliable targets for Drew Allar this fall. The Nittany Lions also added five-star Andrew Olesh and four-stars Matt Henderson and Brian Kortovich to the roster this offseason.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Part of the Full Ride network, we are an alumni-owned and operated, credentialed media outlet dedicated to providing you with updated and reliable insights for all your favorite Nittany Lion sports. Whether it’s Penn State football, basketball, wrestling, or anything in between, you can find it all on Basic Blues Nation!

Please follow us on our social channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and subscribe to our newsletter on Substack for breaking news and notifications. For feedback, questions, or concerns, please email us at basicbluesnation@gmail.com or direct message us on social media.