Penn State has consistently churned out running backs, both before and during James Franklin’s decade-long tenure as coach.
Before the Franklin era, players such as Franco Harris, Ki-Jana Carter and 1973 Heisman Trophy winner John Cappelletti toted the rock for PSU.
During Franklin’s tenure, players such as Saquon Barkley, Miles Sanders and, currently, Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen have done the same.
If all goes according to plan, Jeffrey Overton will be running the ball somewhere at the DI level. That place could be Penn State. Last week, Franklin and Marques Hagans visited Overton’s high school, Freedom, located in Woodbridge, Virginia, and offered him.
After a great talk with @coachmhagans @coachjfranklin i’m blessed to receive an offer from @PennStateFball #WEARE @CoachOvertonJ @OvertonDarryl@RivalsFriedman @MohrRecruiting @BrianDohn247 pic.twitter.com/RVdjTh8zmj
— Jeffrey Overton Jr (@JeffreyOverton1) January 17, 2024
Although Hagans coaches Penn State’s receivers, not the running backs, he’s also the team’s offensive recruiting coordinator and is heavily invested incite State of Virginia. After all, he’s a native who spent more than a decade playing and coaching at UVA.
Overton told Nittany Sports Now via direct message that PSU had been in contact with him for “a while,” and he was thrilled when the offer finally came.
“I was excited and thankful,” Overton said.
The three-star RB who’s listed at 5-foot-10.5 and 187 pounds burst on the scene as a freshman. That season, he rushed for 1,500 yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s picked up offers from schools such as Boston College, Duke, Maryland, NC State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oregon, Pitt, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and West Virginia in addition to PSU. His 2023 numbers were comically good: 2,355 rushing yards and 41 Tds. Overton also plays defensive back, where he had 55 tackles, five interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries for touchdowns. Overton also had 325 receiver yards. The VHSL and Gatorade also named him Virginia Player of the Year.
Blessed to be named Gatorade Player of the Year for Virginia 🫡 Thank you @Gatorade for choosing me @CoachOvertonJ @OvertonCoach pic.twitter.com/kYUkERBLf0
— Jeffrey Overton Jr (@JeffreyOverton1) January 3, 2024
So Overton can certainly run the ball, and he’s aware that Penn State hasn’t struggled to produce star running backs.
“Penn state is great program and has had some really good RBs over the years,” he said.
Overton also feels that Penn State has a “really good fan base and community that loves football.”
He has plenty of options, but could Overton see himself playing at Penn State?
“Yes,” he said. “If the relationship is right and we build on what we have. “I know they’re interested in winning now not later.”
Overton told NSN he plans on visiting PSU Feb. 3.
