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Penn State target named “recruit of the weekend” at Under Armour All-America camp

A Penn State football target is receiving praise from several national talent evaluators. Where do the Nittany Lions stand in his recruitment?

Published

2 weeks ago

May 18, 2023

Matt Thomas

Dec 28, 2019; Arlington, Texas, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Journey Brown (4) runs for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Memphis Tigers at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

In recent years, Penn State has excelled at recruiting elite running back talent. From Saquon Barkley, Miles Sanders, and Journey Brown to Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen, and London Montgomery, the Nittany Lions have brought some of the best running backs in the region to Happy Valley. It doesn’t appear that James Franklin and his staff will be slowing down soon, with several talented tailbacks already committed in the 2024 and 2025 cycles and additional prospects still on the recruiting big board. One of these uncommitted prospects, four-star running back Dilin Jones, made his mark at a recent Under Armour All-America camp, being called the “recruit of the weekend” by one of 247Sports’ top talent evaluators.

Dilin Jones named “recruit of the weekend” at Under Armour All-America camp in Baltimore

Dilin Jones is a consensus four-star running back out of Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, Maryland. The 5-11, 180-pound prospect is considered a top-five player in the state of Maryland and a top-15 running back in the class of 2024. As a junior, Jones was named the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Player of the Year after averaging almost 10 yards per carry last season.

Jones participated in last weekend’s Under Armour All-America Camp Series in Baltimore. A collection of some of the better talent in the Mid-Atlantic region, Jones stood out among the pack. Andrew Ivins of 247Sports even called Jones the “recruit of the weekend” for his performance in skill drills.

“It was a deep and talented group of mid-skill players Sunday. Jones, however, had what we thought was the best performance of the bunch,” Ivins wrote in his piece on 247Sports. “He gave linebackers fits during 1-on-1s as he used his elite burst and sharp cuts to create separation before hauling in touchdown pass after touchdown pass.” Ivins went on to note that Jones clocked one of the fastest times during the camp’s three-cone drill, and he moved through positional drills with ease.

Will Jones join the Penn State 2024 recruiting class?

Whether or not you think Penn State will land Dilin Jones likely depends on which recruiting service you follow most closely. Two of the most prominent outlets, 247Sports and On3, disagree as to Jones’s current leanings. On3 has Penn State as the leader in landing Jones, while 247Sports doesn’t even list the Nittany Lions as one of the running back’s top schools.

Following this weekend’s event, Jones noted that Florida State, Maryland, Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin were among his top contenders, with no mention of Penn State. Jones has visits lined up with Wisconsin and Florida State in June, but hasn’t returned to Penn State since he visited for the Ohio State game last fall.

If Penn State is fading in Jones’s recruitment, it’s for a good reason. The Nittany Lions have Quinton Martin, the No.1 ranked recruit in Pennsylvania, and Corey Smith, one of the top players from Wisconsin, committed in the class of 2024. James Franklin also has four-star Kiandrea Barker committed for the 2025 cycle. This, on top of the talent already on the roster, makes for a very crowded running back room.

But there is reason to keep an eye on this recruitment. Running back depth seems to be all or nothing in recent years. If Singleton and Allen continue developing as many expect, they likely won’t be in Happy Valley much longer. Further, Quinton Martin has the versatility to line up in spots outside of the backfield.

Most importantly, recruiting can be fickle, and there’s still a long way to go before signing day. Staying in the loop with a rising regional prospect will bring nothing but positives for James Franklin and company.

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Penn State football recruiting: A four-star 2025 quarterback to keep an eye on

Penn State football is trending with the No. 1 recruit in Massachusetts, a four-star quarterback target.

Published

9 hours ago

May 29, 2023

Chris Mangum

Penn State football recruiting, Blake Herbert

Oct 5, 2019; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin looks on before a game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Just over two weeks ago, Penn State football recruiting locked down a commitment from 2024 quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer. Since then, the Nittany Lions have already started establishing early interest with a number of 2025 quarterback targets, including four-star QB target Blake Herbert, who has expressed quite a bit of interest in the program since his visit earlier this month.

Penn State football recruiting trending with four-star QB in 2025 class

Ethan Grunkemeyer is the perfect quarterback commit for Penn State football in the 2024 recruiting class. He is a strong-arm recruit from Ohio with the same QB coach as Drew Allar and should continue to rise in the rankings, potentially becoming a top recruit in the class by the time National Signing Day rolls around.

Nonetheless, the Nittany Lions need a 2025 quarterback, and while the class is still a ways away, Penn State appears to be in the lead with another regional QB who possesses a strong arm.

Interest appears to be mutual between the Nittany Lions and Blake Herbert

A successful weekend visit in mid-May turned into a scholarship offer to join the 2025 Penn State football recruiting class for Blake Herbert, the No. 1 recruit in Maryland. His recruitment is young, but the Nittany Lions have clearly made a great early impression and currently lead in his recruitment, according to the ON3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, by nearly 20%.

According to the newest rankings, Blake Herbert is a four-star quarterback target, ranking as the No. 187 recruit in the class, the No. 13 quarterback in the nation, and the top recruit in the state of Massachusetts.

It’s too early to tell where Herbert will ultimately commit or how aggressively Penn State football will pursue his commitment, but there is clearly mutual interest in the early stages, and Herbert is a significant name for Penn State fans to keep an eye on as the 2025 class draws nearer.

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Penn State football fans should keep an eye on major Michigan target next weekend

Penn State football fans should hope that a major recruit doesn’t commit to Michigan next weekend.

Published

17 hours ago

May 29, 2023

Chris Mangum

Penn State football fans, Michigan, Brian Robinson

Oct 15, 2022; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) is hit by Michigan Wolverines linebacker Taylor Upshaw (91) as he passes in the second half at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Next weekend, a major Penn State football recruiting target is slated to be in Ann Arbor. Brian Robinson, a four-star defensive end prospect from Ohio, is set to visit with Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines on June 2nd. Penn State fans should have a lot of interest in his visit — if he leaves Ann Arbor without committing, Penn State still has a fighting chance.

Major Michigan official visit that Penn State football fans should keep an eye on

Brian Robinson is a highly sought-after recruit for the Penn State football program. Currently ranked No. 7 in the nation in the team composite rankings, the Nittany Lions have their eyes set on Robinson as both Michigan (ranked 2nd) and Ohio State (ranked 3rd) currently lead Penn State in the rankings. Robinson’s value to James Franklin and his staff is immense; if Penn State can successfully recruit this four-star prospect, it could kick off the summer with a big win.

At the moment, the Michigan Wolverines and Kentucky Wildcats appear to be leading in Robinson’s recruitment. However, if he leaves Ann Arbor without committing next weekend, Penn State football fans should feel optimistic about the Nittany Lions’ chances.

Penn State’s visit is scheduled for two weeks after, and being the third in line for Robinson’s official visits may not be the most ideal situation, but the upcoming weekend should provide valuable insights into Penn State’s standing.

According to the ON3 Industry Rankings, Brian Robinson is a four-star defensive end in the 2024 recruiting class. He is ranked as the No. 175 recruit in the country, the No. 12 defensive end in the 2024 class, and the No. 6 recruit in the state of Ohio.

As I hinted before, Michigan appears to have a solid lead in his recruitment. However, Penn State football fans should keep a close eye on his visit to Ann Arbor on June 2nd, hoping that he holds off on making a commitment until he visits State College.

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Penn State football facing important visit with top 20 linebacker next weekend

Penn State football is trending with a top 20 linebacker ahead of his pending official visit.

Published

2 days ago

May 28, 2023

Chris Mangum

Penn State football recruiting, Chris Cole, official visit

Aug 31, 2019; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Brandon Smith (12) reacts after sacking Idaho Vandals quarterback Mason Petrino (8) during the third quarter at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Idaho 79-7. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Next weekend will kick off the official visit slate for the 2024 Penn State football recruiting efforts. With tons of momentum, including 14 commits and the 7th-ranked overall class, the Nittany Lions appear to be in good shape for the time being. From June 2nd-4th, a number of the nation’s top recruits will be in State College. However, one stands out at first glance: 2024 four-star linebacker Chris Cole out of Salem High School in Virginia.

Penn State football recruiting trending with four-star linebacker

Penn State football boasts the prestigious title of “Linebacker U,” and for good reason. Over the years, including the James Franklin era, few schools (if any) have produced NFL-ready linebackers the way the Nittany Lions have. In fact, current sophomore linebacker Abdul Carter appears to be next in line to establish himself among the greats to play linebacker in the Blue and White.

Next weekend, Penn State football has a huge opportunity with four-star linebacker Chris Cole, who is currently a Virginia Tech lean according to the Recruiting Prediction Machine. Still, the Nittany Lions are close behind and could establish themselves as a top contender with a successful official visit.

According to the ON3 industry rankings, Cole is a four-star linebacker target, ranking as the No. 189 recruit in the country, the No. 20 linebacker in his class, and the No. 3 recruit in the state of Virginia.

The good news for the Nittany Lions ahead of official visit season

The good news for Penn State football is that no one does official visits like James Franklin and his coaching staff. One of the things that gives Penn State an edge during this time of year is Franklin’s ability to get high-profile recruits on campus and lock down major interest. If the Nittany Lions can work some of that magic this weekend, Cole may wind up in the Blue and White, just like many great linebackers before him.