Penn State battling Ohio State, Michigan for top edge prospect

James Franklin and Penn State football have had many good defensive linemen recently. Guys like Arnold Ebiketie, Odafe Oweh, and Yetur Gross-Matos have been high draft picks. Currently, the Nittany Lions have up-and-coming stars Chop Robinson and Dani Dennis-Sutton on their roster.

Elite teams need to have elite pass rushers. A good defense starts on the line. Franklin and the coaching staff have continued to prioritize the defensive line. In the class of 2023, Franklin and company added Jameial Lyons, a four-star edge from Philadelphia. Joseph Mupoyi, another four-star edge, is also a Nittany Lion. Ta’Mere Robinson is listed as an edge on 247 Sports, but the Nittany Lions will likely use him as a linebacker.

Three-stars Mason Robinson and Tyriq Blanding round out the 2023 class. The upcoming class of 2024 currently has no defensive lineman commitments. Fortunately, Penn State received some good news on Mother’s Day when the Nittany Lions were named a finalist in the recruitment of four-star edge prospect Elias Rudolph. 

Penn State in top 5 for four-star edge prospect Elias Rudolph

Elias Rudolph, a four-star defensive end from Deerfield Beach, Florida, has listed his top five schools, which include Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, Pitt, and Cincinnati. The 6-4, 205-pound Rudolph originally played in the Cincinnati area before relocating to Florida for his senior season. 

– Only 5 left and only 1 Home? ??#GianniRudolph pic.twitter.com/TA2ZrXjxP7

— Elias Rudolph (@EliasRudolph6) May 14, 2023

Former Nittany Lion coach Larry Johnson is tasked with recruiting Rudolph to come to Ohio State. It seems like he has done a good job so far, as Ohio State insider Bill Kurelic has a crystal ball on Rudolph. On3 and Rivals are both predicting that Rudolph will end up a Buckeye.

However, there is still time for the Nittany Lions on Rudolph’s recruitment. Rudolph has an official visit to Michigan set for June 9th. This would indicate that Rudolph’s recruitment is still very much open. This gives Penn State time to get him on campus. But if James Franklin hopes to prevent Rudolph from committing to one of Penn State’s rivals, then the Nittany Lions will have to get back in this race soon. 

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at basicbluesnation@gmail.com or direct message us on our social media. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlets!