Not all players that attended Junior Day over the weekend held offers from Penn State.
In some cases, this was step one of the recruiting processes as players get the opportunity to learn about Penn State University and the coaching staff attempts to familiarize themselves with players they’ve just started recruiting.
A player that fits into that category is 2023 offensive lineman Anwar O’Neal from Middletown High School in Middletown, Delaware. O’Neal currently holds offers from Maryland, Pitt and Temple but is hoping to add Penn State to this list.
Courtesy of Anwar O’Neil
While this wasn’t his first trip to State College, as he made an unofficial visit there to see a game in person, it was O’Neal’s first opportunity to be around and talk with the Nittany Lions coaching staff face to face.
“It was a very nice visit,” O’Neil tells Nittany Sports Now. “The Penn State staff was very lively. When I got there, Coach Franklin was there with a big smile and gave me a handshake to introduce himself. It was very nice; all the coaches were there to greet you with open arms. They made everyone felt comfortable.”
“My first time going to Penn State was during the season for a game day visit. It was still during the 2022 recruiting period so the coaches spent a lot of time talking to the 2022 guys, but it was still a nice visit. After that, our communication has mostly been through my coaches but not they’ve been getting around to talking to me.”
O’Neal was appreciative for getting the invite to travel to State College this weekend and hopes that it was the first step in the Nittany Lions coaching staff getting to know him and eventually extending him an offer.
“Throughout the day, I had a lot of good conversations with them, in particular their offensive line coach,” said O’Neal. “He showed the o-line group of recruits some good technique video and stuff like that. I feel like now that they had the chance to see me and meet me in person and now really know me and saw me in person. As far as the offer, I don’t bring that up in my talks with the coaches and if it comes it comes. At the end of the day, just me being there, shows me that they know me and have some interest. I wouldn’t want to bring that up and put them in a situation. They’ve told me that they’re real straight forward so if they want to offer me, they’ll do so.”
DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS!!!🥞https://t.co/SvKDIfq5KD
— Anwar O’neal (@OnealAnwar77) December 16, 2021
O’Neal describes himself as a humble, team player, someone that just gets the job done and someone that his coaches have described as a team leader that the younger players gravitate towards and can learn from.
“When I ultimately make a college decision, the environment is something that will be important. By that I’m talking about the environment in which I’m living and the people in the program. I want to feel a good environment and nothing hostile and that I’m looked at as someone that’s there just to play football. I really want and need to feel comfortable.”
Over the next few weekends, O’Neal will be traveling to Wake Forest this weekend for Junior Day, Rutgers on January 29th and West Virginia on January 30th.
