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F O O T B A L L R E C R U I T I N G Lions add Dinkins to 2021 class Three-star athlete was recruited as a tight end but could fill multiple roles | J ames Franklin and his sta9 picked up one of the more underrated prospects in the Mid-Atlantic region Oct. 21 with the addition of athlete Khalil Dink- ins. Listed at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Dinkins was recruited by Penn State to play tight end, although it should be noted that he could contribute in multiple ways. "I really built a connection with them," Dinkins said. "Between Coach Terry [Smith], Coach Franklin and Coach [Tyler] Bowen, I feel good about all of them. I'm really excited for them to coach me. To have Coach Franklin as my head coach and Coach Bowen as a tight ends coach is exciting. Then, I have Coach Smith, who I feel like I can talk to about anything. I feel like I've built a real con- nection with them." Dinkins, who attends North Allegheny High School in Wexford, Pa., came onto Penn State's radar in the summer of 2019, but it wasn't until this past February that he earned an o9er from the Nittany Lions. Smith led this recruitment from the very start, while Bowen also had a big impact this past spring and summer, a:er Dink- ins was o9ered. Between May 2019 and April 2020, he earned 18 verbal scholarship o9ers, al- though it's been clear for months now that Dinkins would end up at either Pittsburgh or Penn State. Both schools hosted him on multiple occasions, with his last visit to Penn State coming way back in January when he and his father spent a personal day with the sta9. The recruiting win over an in-state rival is also signi8cant in that his father, Darnell, played for the Panthers in the late '90s. The elder Dinkins went on to play nearly a decade in the NFL. Dinkins is the 8rst tight end to join Penn State's Class of 2021 and will likely be the only one. He's the 14th prospect to an- nounce for PSU and the 8rst since line- backer Jamari Buddin on July 17. A three- star prospect, he's currently having his best high school season, contributing as a running back and wide receiver on of- fense. Through 8ve games, Dinkins had amassed 340 yards of total o9ense and seven touchdowns. He's also made an im- pact as a linebacker and defensive back. Some scouts even believe his future is best at defensive end, emphasizing just how versatile Dinkins is. For now, all signs point toward him playing tight end. "Dinkins is an impressive athlete with a well-rounded skill set, but he'll likely start out as a tight end for Penn State," Ri- vals Mid-Atlantic analyst Adam Fried- man said. "He does a good job catching the ball with his hands and gets o9 the line well. It would be a little surprising if he turned into a down8eld threat because he isn't the fastest tight end out there, but he should be a good short and intermedi- ate receiver. Expect Dinkins to also be a factor as a blocker in the running game as well." With Dinkins on board, all eyes now turn to another prospect from the Pitts- burgh area: four-star safety Derrick Davis Jr. Davis, who attends Gateway High School in Monroeville, announced in Oc- tober that he's planning to end his re- cruitment on Nov. 7. It's believed that Penn State and Ohio State are at the top of his list, with LSU and Georgia also in the mix. The Nittany Lions were consid- ered slight favorites at the end of October. Defensive tackle George Rooks of St. Peter's Prep in New Jersey is another player to watch. The four-star prospect had originally hoped to make a decision in early October, but he later decided to take more time to consider his options. It's still unclear when he may announce, but Penn State and Michigan are believed to be the schools he's focused on. NEWEST LION Dink- ins chose Penn State over Pitt. His father, Darnell Dinkins, played for the Pan- thers in the late 1990s be- fore going on to enjoy a long NFL career. Photo courtesy of Rivals.com

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