Penn State Class of 2025 commit Jaelyne Matthews is a future Nittany Lion for now.
But he’s listening to other schools.
On Saturday, he tweeted that SEC schools Florida and South Carolina had offered him.
AGTG blessed to receive an offer from the University of Florida 💙🧡🤍@RivalsFriedman @RivalsRichie @On3Recruits @edaniels77 @DanBenishti @darnellru53 pic.twitter.com/fYWgJmacqc
— Jaelyne Matthews (@JaelyneMatthew3) May 13, 2023
AGTG blessed to receive an offer from the University of South Carolina ❤️🖤@RivalsFriedman @RivalsRichie @On3Recruits @edaniels77 @DanBenishti @CoachTeasley pic.twitter.com/Gd1SdMOeaI
— Jaelyne Matthews (@JaelyneMatthew3) May 13, 2023
The day before, he tweeted that Wisconsin had offered him. This was nine days after he tweeted that he got an offer from Michigan.
AGTG blessed to receive an offer from the University of Wisconsin ❤️🤍@RivalsFriedman @RivalsRichie @On3Recruits @edaniels77 @DanBenishti pic.twitter.com/rSYBcb8qhw
— Jaelyne Matthews (@JaelyneMatthew3) May 12, 2023
AGTG blessed to receive an offer from the University of Michigan 💛💙@RivalsFriedman @RivalsRichie @On3Recruits @edaniels77 @DanBenishti pic.twitter.com/A6STK4255N
— Jaelyne Matthews (@JaelyneMatthew3) May 3, 2023
Matthews is still committed to Penn State but told Nittany Sports Now Saturday that “whatever God has for me is for me” regarding his recruitment.
But, for now, he still plans to play at Penn State.
“I’m still there,” Matthews told NSN. “I don’t know if I’m one hundred and twenty percent there or one hundred and ten percent there, but I’m still there.”
Matthews said nothing’s happened to sour him on coach James Franklin or his staff.
But with two full seasons of high school football left plus the three-plus months before his junior season begins, there’s no rush to lock everything in.
“I’m a Class of 2025 (player),” Matthews said. “You only get to do this process once, and whatever school’s best for you is best for you. You don’t want to transfer out of that school and have to go through the transfer portal stuff, you know?
Matthews, a four-star offensive tackle from Toms River North high school in New Jersey, was Penn State’s first ’25 commit, announcing his decision in late January.
Since then, two players: four-star DB Omari Gaines, who, like Matthews, is from New Jersey, and four-star RB Kiandrea Barker (Houston, Texans), have followed.
The three commits have a group message, and Williams is particularly close with Gaines, who’s from Newark, roughly an hour away from Toms River.
The two New Jersey products have been recruiting for Penn State, talking to players such as DJ McClary, a four-star ’25 linebacker from Henry Snyder High School in Jersey City.
Matthews plans to visit Penn State this summer along with schools such as Alabama, Tennessee, Ohio State and Georgia.
Matthews feels strong physically, weighing 280 pounds, which is 30 pounds down from where he was as a freshman.
He also feels like he’s improved his technique.
“My drive blocking is stronger,” Matthews said. “My hands are heavier. So, basically, I’ve matured in the game.”
A big reason Jaelyne Matthews committed to Penn State was its offensive line coach, Phil Trautwein.
Matthews feels he and “Coach Traut” have a “father-son-type” relationship.
“He looks at all his players and all his recruits as a son,” Matthews said. “He’s more of a ‘let’s talk this out, let’s see how we can build from here. If you make a mistake, he’s going to talk to you about it. He looks at your game film, like after a game, and he’ll call you and (ask) ‘So what do you think you could have worked on differently?’ (He’ll say) what he thinks I could have worked on differently. So, that’s really what it is.”
Right now, Matthews doesn’t plan on de-committing.
“If it’s in God’s will to relieve myself from Penn State,” he said, “their fans will always be a part of me, a part of my journey, but not any plans as of right now to de-commit.”
But Jaelyne Matthews also knows he has options, and feels that wherever he ends up will be where he’s meant to be.
“Whatever God has for me is for me,” Matthews said. “Whatever he has in store for me, that’s where I’ll be.”
