Penn State made a major push to add another major piece to its 2027 recruiting class, in four-star interior offensive lineman Carter Jones out of Poquoson, Virginia.
Jones announced his commitment on the CBS Sports College Football YouTube channel, choosing Clemson over Penn State, Tennessee and Georgia. He is rated as the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in Virginia.
For Matt Campbell’s staff, this is a significant recruiting loss in Virginia and another sign that Penn State is trying to strengthen its presence throughout the Mid-Atlantic for the new regime.
Penn State offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser and offensive line coach Ryan Clanton visited Jones at Poquoson on May 19, a visit that clearly helped keep the Nittany Lions firmly in the race.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.On the field, Jones is a big-bodied drive blocker who mauls defenders in a wing-T offense. He overwhelms high school competition with size, strength and finishing conviction, especially as a down blocker capable of caving in one side of the line.
Jones has experience at both tackle spots and owns valuable two-way snaps, but he projects inside as a tone-setting guard at the Power Four level. His balance and pass protection reps will need development, but his physical tools give him multi-year starter upside.
For the Nittany Lions, they still sit on two commitments in the 2027 class for interior offensive linemen with a pair of three-stars in Jon Sassic (Pittsburgh, PA) and Owen Reilly (Bel Air, MD).
