Penn State is coming off a good 2023 class and is making some noise in both the transfer portal and the 2024 Class.
In the latest Farrell Files: PSU Edition, I’ll take a look at Penn State’s tight end class and more.
ONE MORE AT THE TABLE
Let’s start with the late addition to the 2023 class in Chimdy Omoh. A recruiting win over Ole Miss and Michigan State, the 6-foot-6, 270-pounder was a late bloomer and highly coveted. The level of competition he plays is poor and he’ll need time to adjust to the speed of Big Ten edge rushers. From a technique standpoint, he’s raw as heck. But he’s athletic, physical and an accomplished run blocker, which will help him early. Penn State has found some guys late in the process or took in players who were raw and a few years away from being ready (Arnold Ebiketie, Shaka Toney come to mind) so James Frankin is not afraid to take a chance. But in this case after the Early Signing Period big men become a priority for that first Wednesday in February and he became very popular. It’s a nice recruiting win but we need to be patient with his development. I’ll dive into the OL class after this edition’s TE breakdown.
Of interest on the recruiting trail is 2025 LB Mantrez Walker naming the Nittany Lions as a top four team for him. He’s a Georgia kid so Florida and perhaps LSU might be a bigger threat than Penn State and Michigan in his top four, but this is great early news. I’m not sure what the rush is for a decision but he’s announcing next weekend and likes Penn State’s LB reputation. Walker is a bit undersized at 6-0 and 210 but as a 2025 he’s still growing and his quick twitch and willingness to hit stand out. A bit of digging has me leaning towards a Michigan commitment here as he grew up a fan of the Wolverines but an early commit from a 2025 in the Southeast means nothing honestly. He has a ton of offers, will get more and I bet he takes a ton of visits and rethinks this many times. He liked his recent visit for junior day.
2024 LB Kari Jackson has Penn State in his top seven with Cincinnati, Maryland, Missouri, Stanford UCF, and Wisconsin as the others and this one is a bit more likely to stick when a decision is made. He’s from Michigan where PSU has had some recent success and I’m hearing the Nittany Lions lead here. He’s 6-2 and 220 and would be a great compliment to current 2024 LB commit Anthony Speca. A spring decision wouldn’t surprise me.
Finally let’s break down this TE class in 2023 and it’s the deepest and best in the country. Virginia TE Mathias Barnwell, Pennsylvania TE Joey Schlaffer and Massachusetts TE Andrew Rappleyea are all 4 star talents and each brings similar traits to the table. Barnwell is massive and bigger than the others and more of a blocker and chain mover and it wouldn’t stun to see him end up as an offensive tackle or defensive end. In fact it’s more likely he’ll end up someplace aside from tight end as he comes in as an athlete but let’s not discount his current TE abilities. There’s a chance he sticks as an in-line TE. Schaffler and Rappleyea are smaller and more likely to end up playing TE. Schaffler is more well known as a Pennsylvania prospect and he’s good in one-on-one coverage and has reliable hands but it’s Rappleyea who excites me. He’s bigger than his listed 215, he’s a great athlete and a physical and aggressive kid. He’s the one I have ranked higher than the rest and he could be a star. The kid attacks to football in the air and is great after the catch.
