Penn State football welcomes multiple legacy prospects to campus this weekend

This weekend kicks off a busy month of recruiting for James Franklin and the Penn State football program. The Nittany Lions hosted the first in a series of junior days that will continue through the remaining weekends in January and early February. While Penn State hosted several top recruits on Saturday, a few of the most notable visitors are legacy prospects for the Blue and White. LBs Anthony Sacca and Colsen Gatten, both sons of former Penn State football lettermen, were in attendance at the Nittany Lions’ first junior day of 2024 this weekend.

Top 2025 LB Anthony Sacca among headliners for first January junior day

Even without his family ties to Penn State football, Anthony Sacca would have been among the most notable prospects in Happy Valley this weekend. From Delran, New Jersey, but playing for St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia, the On3 Industry Rankings have Sacca as the No. 25 LB in the nation and No. 5 recruit in Pennsylvania for the 2025 cycle. Only making the transition from safety to LB this year, Sacca had 67 tackles and two interceptions as a junior.

A four-star recruit, Anthony Sacca is the son of former Penn State QB Tony Sacca. Playing for Joe Paterno in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Sacca is still sixth on the Nittany Lions’ all-time passing list with 5,869 yards. He later went on to a short professional career in the United States and Europe.

Rising 2026 LB Colsen Gatten makes return trip to Penn State

First reported by On3 earlier in the week, 2026 LB Colsen Gatten was also a visitor for Penn State’s junior day this weekend, his fourth visit since September. Unevaluated by the major recruiting services, Gatten already holds offers from Wisconsin, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Pitt, in addition to the Nittany Lions. This week, he picked up three more offers from West Virginia, Michigan State, and former Penn State DC Manny Diaz at Duke.

Gatten’s father, Aaron Gatten, was a four-year letterman for the Nittany Lions. As a senior in 2000, the elder Gatten started seven games, recording 51 tackles at LB. He went on to sign a free-agent contract with the Miami Dolphins in 2001.

Playing for Central Catholic in Pittsburgh, Colsen Gatten was teammates with 2024 Penn State football signees Peter Gonzalez and Anthony Speca.

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