Penn State Offers 2025 4-Star QB from CA

STATE COLLEGE, PA — Penn State football ended a busy week on the recruiting trail with a massive visitor’s day on Saturday. More than 60 prospects visited Happy Valley this weekend to meet with James Franklin and the football staff. For one high-level prospect, the cross-country trip was not made in vain. Bekkem Kritza, a 2025 4-star QB prospect, returned to California with an offer from Penn State in hand.

Penn State Offers 2025 4-Star QB Bekkem Kritza

Bekkem Kritza is the No. 61 overall rated prospect in the country for the class of 2025, according to the On3 Consensus Database. The 3 major recruiting evaluators – 247 Sports, Rivals, and On3 – all rate Kritza as a 4-star recruit. The 6-5 195-pound Santa Margarita Catholic prospect is currently ranked as the 10th-best player in California and the 7th-best QB in the class.

Kritza was in State College as a visitor for an expansive recruiting weekend, with prospects attending from all over the country. On Saturday afternoon, Kritza announced on his social media that he had received a Penn State offer after speaking with James Franklin, offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich, and offensive analyst Danny O’Brien.

After a great conversation with @coachjfranklin @Coach_Yurcich @DannyOBrienQB @chrismahon_ @djbryant13 I am blessed to say I have received an offer from Penn State University!!@NILSPORTSCOLLE1 @MyProspex @Fast7v7 @3dqb_SoCal @GregBiggins @SWiltfong247 @adamgorney @ChadSimmons_ pic.twitter.com/tEN6eMjfmd

— Bekkem Kritza (@stretch2025) March 19, 2023

James Franklin Will Have to Work to Land Kritza

Although Krtiza’s offer list is still small, serious competition exists for the 4-star QB’s talents. The Nittany Lions join Texas A&M, Colorado, Colorado State, Miami, and Kansas as the programs to offer Kritza.

There is still plenty of time in the 2025 cycle, which is good if James Franklin and Mike Yurcich want to make Kritza a member of their recruiting class. Currently, On3 has Kritza as a 49% lead to Texas A&M, with Colorado and Colorado State coming in at 15% and 13%, respectively. Penn State and Miami have an 11% chance of landing the California QB.

Westward Expansion?

Realistically, I’d say that Penn State’s chances of receiving a commitment from Kritza are slim. The Nittany Lions are slowly expanding their national recruiting footprint to the West Coast. James Franklin even landed Washington offensive lineman Vega Ioane in the class of 2022. But Penn State has not traditionally experienced the same presence out West for skill position players as have programs like Ohio State, Alabama, and Clemson.

But, with momentum building on the recruiting trail and on the field, it’s possible that the traditional trend could soon change for the Nittany Lions. If James Franklin can get the Lions to live up to expectations in 2023, it’s only natural for the national buzz around the program to grow.

Plus, with USC and UCLA set to join the Big Ten in 2024, Penn State will soon receive exposure out West like it never has before. Suddenly, the distance may feel like less of a factor to West Coast recruits, especially if Penn State remains to be a top-5 or top-10 program nationally.

They’re certainly not there yet, but Westward expansion may soon be coming for James Franklin and the Nittany Lions.

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