Jameial Lyons, a 2023 defensive end from Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia who is a four-star recruit according to 247Sports’ site rankings, has committed to Penn State.
“I’m staying home PA!!!” he wrote on Instagram. “112% committed. #weare
I’m staying home Pa!!! 112% committed #weare 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/Gl2Xs5Bcr5
— Jameial Lyons (@Mill12k) April 22, 2022
The 6-foot-5, 245-pounder chose Penn State over Cincinnati, Illinois Pitt and West Virginia. Lyons is Penn State’s 10th commit from the 2023 class and the first 2023 defensive end to commit to Penn State— four-star Neeo Avery had been committed but de-committed in late March.
Before Lyons committed, Chartiers Valley cornerback Lamont Payne was the only defensive player committed to Penn State in the 2023 cycle.
Lyons had originally planned to commit in August, but announced Monday that he was pushing his announcement all the way up to this week.
In a scouting evaluation from late February, 247Sports National Recruiting Analyst Brian Doan wrote that Lyons has the length and frame to fill out his size and also has the ability to play on the edge of the defensive line at the Division I level.
“Has to continue to develop lower-body flexibility to dip shoulder and explode when coming around the edge,” Doan wrote. “Multi-year starter for top 20 program. Has NFL draft potential.”
Lyons spoke to a Pennlive podcast yesterday about his impending commitment. “This is very exciting,” Lyons said. “This is every kid’s dream. The college visits and everything, the commitment, this is one of the most exciting weeks.” In the podcast he named Penn State, Illinois, Pitt and West Virginia in his top five, but couldn’t think of the fifth school suggesting that they weren’t as strong of contenders as the other four.
Despite being a big 6-foot-5, 245-pound defensive end, Lyons comes to Penn State with significant speed that he learned playing safety his sophomore year of high school. He was offered by only Morgan State and UMass following that season. He only played in two games as a sophomore.
Since learning a new position as a young sophomore in high school, Lyons stock skyrocketed to where he became a four-star defensive end recruit. Now he heads to Penn State as a part of what’s shaping up to be yet another strong recruiting class by head coach James Franklin.
