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Penn State Football Recruiting

Signing day primer: PSU’s class of 2021 breakdown

Khalil Dinkins

This recruiting cycle has been perhaps the most bizarre in the history of college football, but beginning on Wednesday, players can officially sign their letters of intent. The early signing period will extend to Friday, giving a three-day window that precedes the traditional February signing day.

Although no formal visits have been permitted since March, Penn State is expected to sign most, if not all, of its current crop of commits, and the Nittany Lions still aim to add to the class. Here’s a look at the players who have already pledged to PSU, as well as some of the notable remaining targets.

Penn State Class of 2021

Number of commits: 15

Overall ranking: 20th (4th in Big Ten) according to 247Sports

Average rating: 88.88

COMMITS

Landon Tengwall – Offensive Tackle, 6-6, 300

High School/Hometown: Good Counsel/Olney, MD

Ranking: 4 Star – 97.48, 50th Nationally

Commitment Date: March 26, 2020

Info: The crown jewel of the Class of 2021, Tengwall received his Penn State offer in February 2018. His offer sheet included heavyweights such as Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, Florida, and LSU, but Penn State edged Notre Dame for his services. Tengwall plans to enroll early, and already has a physique that appears college ready.


Lonnie White Jr – Wide Receiver, 6-2, 210

High School/Hometown: Malvern Prep/Malvern, PA

Ranking: 4 Star – 92.08, 195th Nationally

Commitment Date: May 7, 2020

Info: White was originally committed to Clemson, but to play baseball, not football. That outlook changed when Penn State offered White to continue on the gridiron in April, and he committed to the Nittany Lions the following month. While he still could warrant pro consideration in baseball, White’s stock rose considerably in football this past year, and he’s rated as the seventh-best player in Pennsylvania.


Kalen King – Cornerback, 5-11, 170

High School/Hometown: Cass Technical/Detroit, MI

Ranking: 4 Star – 91.30, 233rd Nationally

Commitment Date: April 10, 2020

Info: King is one of four Michigan natives in the recruiting class for Penn State, which also includes his twin brother. King was offered by Penn State in April 2019. He attends the same high school at current Penn State defensive back Donovan Johnson. He’s expected to enroll early.


Jaylen Reed – Safety, 6-0, 190

High School/Hometown: Martin Luther King/Detroit, MI

Ranking: 4 Star – 90.56, 272nd Nationally

Commitment Date: April 9, 2020

Info: Reed is another Michigan product, and his commitment preceded the King twins by one day. Reed follows another Michigan safety to Penn State, as Enzo Jennings joined the Nittany Lions in the Class of 2020. Penn State was among the first teams to offer Reed, in February 2019.


Zakee Wheatley – Safety, 6-2, 180

High School/Hometown: Archbishop Spalding/Severn, MD

Ranking: 4 Star – 89.60, 322nd Nationally

Commitment Date: April 10, 2020

Info: Wheatley was deemed an athlete recruit initially and could have potentially played wide receiver in college, but his future appears to be in the secondary at Penn State. The Nittany Lions offered him in June 2019. He plans to enroll early.


Jamari Buddin – Outside Linebacker, 6-2, 215

High School/Hometown: Belleville/Belleville, MI

Ranking: 3 Star – 88.90, 373rd Nationally

Commitment Date: July 17, 2020

Info: Offered in June 2019, Buddin became the fourth (and likely) final member of the Class of 2021 from Michigan when he pledged over the summer. Buddin is less than 15 spots away from being a four-star prospect.


Kobe King – Inside Linebacker, 6-0.5, 223

High School/Hometown: Cass Technical/Detroit, MI

Ranking: 3 Star – 88.29, 438th Nationally

Commitment Date: April 10, 2020

Info: The twin brother of the aforementioned Kalen King, Kobe is about an inch taller and more than 50 pounds heavier. He was initially offered by Penn State a few months after his brother, in June 2019. He’s also expected to enroll early.


Christian Veilleux – Quarterback, 6-3.5, 201

High School/Hometown: Bullis School/Potomac, MD

Ranking: 3 Star – 88.17, 443rd Nationally

Commitment Date: April 29, 2020

Info: Veilleux currently attends the Bullis School, which also produced NFL quarterback Dwayne Haskins, but he’s originally from Canada, joining Theo Johnson, Malick Meiga, Jesse Luketa, and Jonathan Sutherland as players who came from north of the border. Clemson, Tennessee, and Duke were the other finalists for Veilleux before he selected Penn State. The Nittany Lions extended him an offer in June 2019 when he attended their camp. Considered a pro-style QB, he’s planning to enroll early.


Rodney McGraw – Defensive End, 6-5, 255

High School/Hometown: Elkhart Central/Elkhart, IN

Ranking: 3 Star – 88.17, 44th Nationally

Commitment Date: May 3, 2020

Info: The lone defensive line commit at this juncture, McGraw previously pledged to Indiana, but switched his allegiance less than four months later. He follows in the footsteps of Cole Brevard, another Indiana defensive lineman who was a crucial piece of the Class of 2020. McGraw, who also plays basketball, received his PSU offer in September 2019.


Jeffrey Davis Jr. – Cornerback, 6-0, 170

High School/Hometown: Kingswood-Oxford School/West Hartford, CT

Ranking: 3 Star – 87.55, 524th Nationally

Commitment Date: April 17, 2020

Info: Davis will join fellow Connecticut defensive backs Marquis Wilson and Tyler Randolph on the Penn State roster. Also a track and field athlete, Davis garnered his PSU offer in November 2019. He will enroll early.


Liam Clifford – Wide Receiver, 6-1, 195

High School/Hometown: St. Xavier/Cincinnati, OH

Ranking: 3 Star – 87.48, 532rd Nationally

Commitment Date: October 20, 2019

Info: The younger brother of Penn State starting QB Sean Clifford, Liam was initially regarded as an athlete recruit, but his future is likely as a wide receiver. One of just two players who pledged to the Nittany Lions prior to 2020, Clifford saw a notable rating increase following his prolific senior season. He was offered while camping for the Nittany Lions in June 2019.


Harrison Wallace – Wide Receiver, 6-1, 180

High School/Hometown: Pike Road/Pike Road, AL

Ranking: 3 Star – 87.32, 557th Nationally

Commitment Date: December 7, 2020

Info: The newest member of the Penn State recruiting class, Wallace switched his commitment from Duke to the Nittany Lions last week. His commitment to the Blue Devils took place in October, but the Nittany Lions extended an offer the following month. A late-rising recruit, Wallace is a standout on the hardwood, as well. He’s the first Alabama native to commit to Penn State since 2014.


Khalil Dinkins – Tight End, 6-3, 220

High School/Hometown: North Allegheny/Wexford, PA

Ranking: 3 Star – 86.74, 660th Nationally

Commitment Date: Oct 21, 2020

Info: The son of former Pitt and NFL player Darnell Dinkins, Khalil is a tight end recruit, but has the potential to play linebacker in college. Dinkins was offered in February. He previously played in high school with Penn State starting cornerback Joey Porter Jr.


Nate Bruce – Offensive Guard, 6-4, 320

High School/Hometown: Harrisburg/Harrisburg, PA

Ranking: 3 Star – 86.53, 695th Nationally

Commitment Date: October 19, 2019

Info: The earliest (remaining) member of the Class of 2021, Bruce follows Harrisburg products Micah Parsons and Damion Barber to Penn State. The Nittany Lions offered him in July 2019. He will enroll early.


Sander Sahaydak – Kicker, 6-2, 160

High School/Hometown: Liberty/Bethlehem, PA

Ranking: 3 Star – 83.09, Unranked Nationally

Commitment Date: April 29, 2020

Info: Although Sahaydak is the lowest-rated member of the class currently, he ranks as the second-best kicker recruit in the country. PSU offered Sahaydak 11 days before his commitment, and his only other Power Five offer came from Rutgers. He is the third kicker commit for Penn State (not including transfer Jordan Stout) since 2016.

Possible remaining targets:

5 Star Running Back Donovan Edwards – Expected to announce commitment on Dec. 16

4 Star Defensive End Elijah Jeudy – Expected to announce commitment on Jan. 2

3 Star Defensive End George Wilson – Expected to announce commitment on Dec. 18

3 Star Running Back Deshun Murrell – Expected to announce commitment on Dec. 18

3 Star Defensive Tackle Victory Vaka – Expected to announce commitment on Jan. 6

4 Star Defensive Tackle Tywone Malone

4 Star Defensive End Davon Townley

4 Star Defensive Tackle George Rooks

4 Star Offensive Guard Drew Kendall

4 Star Running Back Ke’Travion Hargrave

3 Star Inside Linebacker Deshauwn Alleyne

3 Star Defensive End Austin Uke

3 Star Defensive End Keith Cooper

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