Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1495456
A P R I L 2 0 2 3 5 7 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Scott Jr., new assistant coach Deion Barnes has to hit the ground running for the Nittany Lions. This will be a key position group in the 2024 cycle. Linebacker Projected Take: 2 or 3 This is the one position group in the 2024 class where Penn State is al- ready in good shape, having picked up commitments from three-star pros- pects Kari Jackson of West Bloom- field, Mich., and Anthony Speca of Pittsburgh. Jackson and Speca are both listed at 6-1, 215 pounds and are expected to start out as middle linebackers. Consequently, Penn State is primar- ily focused on finding a true outside linebacker to fill the third spot in its class. Four-star Kris Jones of Stafford, Va., On3's No. 18 linebacker nation- ally and No. 3 prospect in Virginia, is near the top of the board. He's vis- ited Penn State more than any other school so far but has also made it clear that he's in no rush. Three-star Jamonta Waller of Picayune, Miss., is another player to keep an eye on. He visited for the first time in January and raved about the Nittany Lions. However, he's also since added offers from Alabama, Georgia and many other top SEC programs. Cornerback Projected Take: 3 or 4 Penn State picked up a commitment from three-star Philadelphian Kenny Woseley Jr. in early March. Assistant coach Terry Smith is pursuing a few oth- ers heavily, including four-star prospect Jon Mitchell of Jacksonville, Fla. Mitch- ell, On3's No. 61 player and No. 8 corner- back in the land, attended the White Out game in October and has already set an official visit to Penn State for June. He's also planning to visit for a spring practice session in late March. His Mandarin High School teammate Antoine Belgrave-Shorter also ranks high on the board. Belgrave-Shorter holds a three-star rating and is expected to visit Penn State the same weekend as Mitchell. Other cornerback prospects of note include Jameer Grimsley of Tampa, Omillio Agard of Philadelphia and Terhyon Nichols of Cincinnati. Nichols holds a four-star rating and is rated as the No. 20 cornerback in the country, while Agard is a three- star prospect. Grimsley has yet to be ranked, but his recruitment has blasted off lately. In a span of two months, he went from having one offer to hav- ing more than 20. Penn State was the first Power Five school to make that move, extending its scholarship offer on Jan. 17. Safety Projected Take: 2 This is one of the younger position groups on the 2023 team, with five of the eight scholarship players enter- ing either their first or second year of eligibility. After Penn State signed three safeties last year, it's hard to envi- sion the staff taking more than two in the 2024 cycle. Four-star prospect Vaboue Toure of Irvington, N.J., is at the top of the board. He's the third- ranked safety, No. 58 player overall na- tionally and No. 1 in New Jersey, and has visited Penn State three times so far. He's already locked in an official visit to PSU on the weekend of June 9-11. Two other four-star New Jersey na- tives, Jaylen McClain of West Orange, the No. 100 player and No. 9 safety in the land, and Kaj Sanders of Oradell, the No. 32 safety in the class, also rank high on the staff's board. In addition, three- star Noah Jenkins of Highland Springs, Va., has visited Penn State more than any other school so far. ■ C L A S S O F 2 0 2 4 C O M M I T M E N T S * N A M E P O S H T W T R A T I N G * * H O M E T O W N S C H O O L Cooper Cousins OL 6-6 285 HHHH Erie, Pa. McDowell Kari Jackson LB 6-1 215 HHH Bloomfield Hills, Mich. West Bloomfield Anthony Speca LB 6-1 215 HHH Pittsburgh Central Catholic Kenny Woseley Jr. CB 5-11 165 HHH Philadelphia Imhotep Charter C L A S S O F 2 0 2 5 C O M M I T M E N T * N A M E P O S H T W T R A T I N G * * H O M E T O W N S C H O O L Jaelyne Matthews OT 6-5 273 HHHH Toms River, N.J. Toms River North * As of March 20 | ** On3 player rating as of March 20 Four-star New Jersey prospect Vaboue Toure is On3's third-rated safety nationally in the 2024 class. He's expected to take an official visit to Penn State in June. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER