Getting an offer from Penn State is a big deal for just about any player.
But for a linebacker, it hits different.
Jess Officer went to Penn State for a recruiting camp in June and left with an offer.
“I was so hyped,” he told Nittany Sports Now, “and just especially because it is LBU, and they have such great linebackers there right now with Tony Rojas and the crew there, it’s just, I mean, it’s awesome that they’re looking at someone like me.”
Officer was also hyped to attend Penn State’s White Out game against USC Oct. 11, and ended up witnessing the largest-attended game in Beaver Stadium history.
The only thing that could have made the night better from Penn State’s end would have been a win, and the USC loss was part of an ongoing four-game losing streak for the 3-4 Nittany Lions, who are still looking for their first Big Ten win as we near the end of October.
But Officer understands that this is a process.
“It’s (coach Matt Campbell’s) first year there, so I’m not gonna like keep tallies on a coach who’s trying to renovate or bring back a program.”
Officer is looking at Penn State, too.
The three-star from Oldham County High School in Buckner, Kentucky, also has offers from schools such as Auburn, Indiana, Louisville, Kentucky, Northwestern, Syracuse, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech.
He told NSN that he has Penn State in his top five, and a big reason is Campbell and the coaching staff.
“A lot of those guys are just great people, and they’re attracted to a group of people who are great too,” he said.
So what makes Officer a player and person that Penn State would want?
“I think I’m just a smart football player that plays fast and physical, makes my reads and flies around, and I think that’s also like character-wise,” he said. “If you’re smart off the field, you’re probably smart on the field.”
“I think I just have solid character in a humble way, you know,” he said. “I just handle my business, make sure I’m good in school, and my classwork taken care of, and I enjoy learning and progressing in all parts of life.”
Officer said one of the linebackers he watches to try and take stuff from is Hall of Famer Luke Kuechley.
He feels he’d be a fit for Penn State DC D’Anton Lynn’sscheme.
“I feel like I’d fit in nicely,” he said. “They run two backers mainly. It looked like they rotate a lot. So, I mean, it’s kind of just like feel like you could go there and get playing time and develop there early and stay there and have a good shot at going to wherever you are, like next in your journey.”
Who knows where Officer’s Journey will take him, but he’s surely a guy to watch for in Penn State recruiting.
“They’re a school that I’m definitely interested in,” he said.
