Just when many thought Penn State had put a bow on its 2025 class, the program caught a big fish in Andrew Olesh.
Olesh, a four-star, 6-foot-5, 216-pound in-state tight end from Southern Lehigh High School in Center Valley, flipped his commitment from Michigan to Penn State, announcing the decision Friday afternoon.
BREAKING: Elite 2025 TE Andrew Olesh has Flipped his Commitment from Michigan to Penn State, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6โ5 215 TE had been Committed to the Wolverines since July
โLetโs bring home a National Championship to Penn State! The best in PA stay in PA ๐ฆโโฆ pic.twitter.com/yB5F1NxLMl
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 6, 2024
This is a big one, figuratively and literally.
Olesh is the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania per 247Sportsโ composite ratings, as well as the No. 3 tight end in the country and the No. 59 overall player.
Ironically, the two places most likely to land Olesh, who many anticipated flipping from Michigan, were Oregon and Penn State, the same two teams who will be playing for the Big Ten Championship Saturday night at 8 in Indianapolis.
THE SCOUTING REPORT
A scouting report published by Andrew Ivins of 247Sports described Olesh as a โthree-level pass catcher with a favorable combination of traits that has a chance to emerge as a game-changing combo tight end on Saturdays.โ
โTested in the upper percentile spring before senior season, clocking a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash and a 4.13 in the short shuttle at just under 6-foot-5, 215 pounds,โ he wrote. โHas been deployed primarily as a large outside receiver at the prep level, but has proven to be an effective move blocker out on the perimeter and has finished a bulk of his run-blocking chores when asked to work out of a three-point stance. Mixes gears well as a route runner and turned heads at the Elite 11 Finals with his dynamic cuts, large catch radius, and superb body control. Competitive with the ball in his hands as he will use his burst and agility to get out of tackles. Will need to add some mass in the coming years and keep progressing as an in-line player to reach full potential, but should be viewed as a future multi-year starter at the Power Four level that can elevate a passing attack after a developmental year or two. NFL upside given the growth potential and how he moves.โ
A PROPHECY?
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: James Franklin
Penn State was already developing a knack for quality tight end play before position coach Ty Howle returned to his Alma Mater. In James Franklinโs first six seasons, Mike Gesicki and Pat Freiermuthbecame stars and today are NFL regulars. But under Howle, that reputation has intensified.
First it was Brenton Strange, who became a star over the 2021 and โ22 seasons. Strange is now with Jacksonville. Current New York Giant Theo Johnson was Penn Stateโs No. 1 tight end last season.
Now, Tyler Warren is the man, and if you donโt know what Warren has been doing, you havenโt been paying attention to Penn State football.
Warren will be out of eligibility after this season but, as hard as it may be to believe, Penn State just might be ok without him. Five-star Luke Reynolds is already seeing playing time as a true freshman and Andrew Rappleyea, who unfortunately has missed almost all season with an injury, is another blue-chipper.
We also canโt forget about Khalil Dinkins, who is getting a lot of playing time and has impressed Franklin and the staff with his blocking.
โWeโre recruiting the best tight ends in the country,โ Franklin said, ย โweโre developing the best tight ends in the country. Itโs a competitive room, you have to embrace that. And then you just look at whatโs happening after they get done. embrace that. Then, you just look at whatโs happening after they get done playing at Penn State. Theyโre all getting their degrees, and theyโre all getting drafted, and the majority of them are getting drafted very high.โ
Many felt that message was directed at Olesh, and many it indeed was.
Penn State now has 27 signees from the 2025 class, assuming Olesh does sign.
