Barring something crazy, Penn State will go into the 2024 season with each of the last five top-ranked high school recruits in Pennsylvania on its roster, and the transfer portal is partially to thank for that.
Nicholas Singleton (Shillingon) signed to Penn State’s ‘22 Class, and Wyomissing’s J’ven Williams followed suit in ‘23.
This past signing day, Belle Vernon’s Quinton Martin officially became a PSU player.
Initially, Pennsylvania’s top-ranked ‘20 high school player, Julian Fleming, singed with Ohio State. But after four seasons in Columbus, Fleming hit the transfer portal and committed to Penn State earlier this week. Now, Nolan Rucci, who committed to Wisconsin’s 2021 class, has committed to Penn State.
#WeAre Home. pic.twitter.com/ZClxPmGYNT
— Nolan Rucci (@nolanrucci) January 6, 2024
Rucci, a 6-foot-8 OL who was a five-star OT coming out of Warwick High School in Lititz, played guard at Wisconsin but only ended up playing in five games over three seasons. Along with the obvious connection of being from Pennsylvania, Rucci comes from a Penn State family. His father, Todd, played at PSU for Joe Paterno in the late 1980s and early 1990’s before playing seven NFL seasons for the Patriots, being selected to the franchise’s all-decade team.
Both of Rucci’s parents graduated from Penn State and are season ticket holders, and that, along with Rucci’s talent, had a lot of people wanting Rucci to pick PSU.
“There was always a lot of outside pressure to go to Penn State,” Rucci told the Centre Daily Times after he committed to Wisconsin. “But at the end of the day, when you’re making your decision, it is the most selfish decision you can make. And so you’ve really gotta be thinking about what you want, not what everybody else in your community or your family wants.”
Now, Rucci is coming to PSU, and fans will be happy to have him.
