While it may not be the White Out game in Happy Valley on Saturday, No. 3 Penn State faces No. 4 Ohio State in a massive matchup with serious Big 10 and College Football Playoff implications as the calendar shifts to November.
As expected, the sidelines will be brimming with commits and recruits from across the country, including from Western Pennsylvania, an area that cornerbacks coach Terry Smith and head coach James Franklin heavily focus on.
Pittsburgh Sports Now and Nittany Sports Now have confirmed the following WPIAL players — many of whom are key Penn State targets — that will be in State College, Pa. on Saturday.
2025
Tiqwai Hayes* — 2025 4-star RB from Aliquippa HS
Hayes — a 6-foot-1, 204-pound prospect — has been locked in as a Penn State commit since September of 2023. He has made numerous visits the Penn State since, including gameday visits against Kent State and Illinois in September.
Dayshaun Burnett* — 2025 4-star LB from Imani Christian Academy
Burnett — a 6-foot-4, 220-pound prospect — committed to Penn State in February and has made several gameday visits this season for the home opener against Bowling Green and against Illinois.
Alex Tatsch* — 2025 4-star LB from Latrobe HS
Tatsch — a 6-foot-3, 222-pound prospect — locked in his verbal commitment to Penn State in February and was in attendance for PSU’s matchup against Illinois.
Brady O’Hara* — 2025 OT from North Catholic
O’Hara — 6-foot-6, 250-pound prospect — committed to Penn State last September and has been a frequent visitor over the past 12 months, including multiple gameday visits last fall and a recent visit in September.
Kenny Lewis — 2025 CB from Gateway HS
Lewis — a 5-foot-10, 180-pound prospect — does not own an offer from Penn State. He has D-I offers from Temple, Marshall, UNLV, Bryant and Robert Morris.
2026
Matt Sieg — 2026 4-star S from Fort Cherry HS
Sieg — a 6-foot, 180-pound prospect — is a top target for PSU in the 2026 class and picked up his first offer from the Nittany Lions back in October of 2023. He holds additional offers from West Virginia, Pitt, USC, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, Michigan State, Virginia, Rutgers, Maryland, Syracuse, Temple, Marshall, Buffalo, Akron and Robert Morris.
David Davisย — 2026 4-star RB from Imani Christian Academy
Davis — a 6-foot, 190-pound prospect — picked up his first offer from Penn State back in 2022. He holds additional offers from Pitt, West Virginia, Kentucky, Nebraska, Duke, Tennessee, Michigan State, Maryland, Cincinnati, James Madison, Miami (OH) and Akron.
Colsen Gatten — 2026 3-star LB from Central Catholic
Gatten — a 6-foot-1, 210-pound prospect — picked up his second offer from Penn State back in June of 2023. He holds additional offers from Pitt, Wisconsin, Nebraska, California, Duke, Tennessee, West Virginia, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Michigan, Oklahoma, Maryland, Kentucky, Boston College, Texas A&M, Michigan State and Temple.
Brendan Alexander — 2026 3-star OL from Central Valley HS
Alexander — a 6-foot-4, 290-pound prospect — picked up his first D-I offer from Penn State in September of 2023. He holds offers from West Virginia, USF, Boston College, Pitt, Duke, N.C. State, Penn State, Stanford, Michigan State, Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Wisconsin, Syracuse, Temple, Marshall, Bowling Green, Akron, Central Michigan, UConn and Troy.
Da’Ron Barksdale — 2026 3-star DB from Steel Valley HS
Barksdale — a 5-foot-11, 175-pound prospect — has yet to pick up an offer from Penn State. His offer sheet stands at West Virginia, Syracuse, Pitt, Temple, BGSU, Akron and UNLV.
Adam Gehm — 2026 TE, from Seneca Valley HS
Gehm — a 6-foot-6, 230-pound prospect — still awaits an offer from Penn State as his list consists of Wisconsin, Maryland, Syracuse, East Carolina, Toledo and Miami (OH).
Zykir Moore — 2026 LB from Woodland Hills HS
Moore — a 6-foot-2, 205-pound prospect — holds offers from Syracuse, UConn, Albany, Akron, Miami (OH), New Hampshire and UMass.
Scoop Smith — 2026 WR from Woodland Hills HS
Smith — a 5-foot-6, 150-pound prospect — holds offers from Nebraska, Temple, Toledo, UNLV, Robert Morris and UMass.
Andy Tatsch — 2026 S from Latrobe HS
Tatsch — a 6-foot-2, 185-pound prospect — holds offers from West Virginia and Akron.
Nolan DiLucia — 2026 LB from Peters Township HS
DiLucia — a 6-foot-2, 195-pound prospect — owns one D-I offer from Miami (OH).
Maceo Watkins — 2026 WR from Central Catholic
Joesph Work — 2026 ATH from Aliquippa HS
2027
Kemon Spell* — 2027 4-star RB from McKeesport HS
Spell — a 5-foot-10, 195-pound prospect — became the first Class of 2027 recruit to announce his commitment to Penn State. He made his verbal pledge in August. This will be his second in-game visit at Penn State during the 2024 season.
Larry Moon III — 2027 4-star CB from Aliquippa HS
Moon — a 5-foot-11, 180-pound prospect — holds an offer from Penn State and is one of the most sought-after recruits in the 2027 class. His offer sheet includes Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, Oregon, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, LSU, Minnesota, Indiana, Kansas, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Penn State, UCLA, Maryland, Pitt, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Tennessee, Miami, South Carolina, Nebraska, Akron, UNLV, Troy, UCF, USC, Syracuse, Miami (OH), Kentucky, North Carolina, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Ohio, UConn, Colorado State and San Jose State.
Khalil Taylor — 2027 4-star WR from Seton LaSalle
Taylor — a 5-foot-11, 180-pound prospect — holds an offer from Penn State. His additional offers include Pitt, Maryland, Rutgers, West Virginia, UConn, Nebraska, Akron, UNLV and Temple.
Gabe Jenkins — 2027 4-star CB from Imani Christian Academy
Jenkins — a 6-foot-2, 186-pound prospect — holds an offer from Penn State. His additional offers include Michigan State, Pitt, Kentucky, Maryland, West Virginia, Syracuse, UCF, Akron, Toledo, James Madison, Marshall, Miami (OH) and UNLV.
Armand Hill — 2027 RB from West Mifflin HS
Hill — a 5-foot-10, 172-pound prospect — holds an offer from Penn State. His additional offers include Michigan, West Virginia, Pitt, Syracuse, Maryland, Akron, Toledo, UNLV and Bowling Green.
Carter Bonner — 2027 DB from Penn Hills HS
Bonner — a 6-foot-3, 190-pound prospect — owns a Penn State offer. His additional offers include Michigan State, West Virginia, Pitt, Maryland, UConn, Troy, Akron, Miami (OH) and UNLV.
Sa’Nir Brooks — 2027 RB from Aliquippa HS
Brooks — a 5-foot-10, 190-pound prospect — has yet to pick up an offer from Penn State, but holds offers from Pitt, West Virginia, Syracuse, Miami (OH) and Akron.
Roman Thompson — 2027 LB from Central Catholic
Thompson — a 6-foot, 200-pound prospect — does not hold an offer from PSU. His D-I offers include Akron, Miami (OH) and Toledo.
Javien Robinson — 2027 WR from McKeesport HS
Robinson — a 6-foot-1, 175-pound prospect — hold a D-I offer from Duquesne
Maurice Williams — 2027 OL from Imani Christian Academy
2028
Owen Herrick — 2028 QB from Central Catholic
Anthony Smith — 2028 QB from Southmoreland
Quinn O’Hara — 2028 LB from North Catholic
2030
Colin Sieg — 2030 QB from Fort Cherry HS
For more on all the WPIAL football commits and offers, click here.
