Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1495456
5 4 A P R I L 2 0 2 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M P enn State had four commitments in its 2024 recruiting class as of mid-March. Compared to previ- ous years, the Nittany Lions were a bit behind their normal pace at the begin- ning of the cycle, but there's a long road ahead and no shortage of talented play- ers still available. When On3's updated On300 was re- leased the final week of February, there were more than 50 uncommitted pros- pects on the list who had already visited Penn State at least once. Penn State's scholarship roster for the 2023 season is projected to have 29 players entering at least their fourth year of eligibility. Not all of those play- ers will necessarily move on, but expect the Nittany Lions' 2024 class to be a full one. In fact, there's a chance Penn State could actually surpass the 25-scholar- ship limit because the January enroll- ees can be counted toward the previous year's class. With nine months still to go until re- cruits can sign, there are a lot of factors that will impact this class in the months ahead. The transfer portal has made it hard to project numbers, but for now, this is how we believe the staff is look- ing to allocate its available scholarships: Quarterback Projected Take: 2 With only three scholarship quar- terbacks on the current roster, Penn State would like to sign two this year. Luke Kromenhoek, an On3 four-star prospect from Savannah, Ga., sits at the top of offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich's board, but he committed to Florida State last year. Kromenhoek did visit Penn State after committing to the Seminoles and may visit again this summer, but it appears unlikely that he will end up somewhere other than Tallahassee. Four-star prospects Samaj Jones of St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia, On3's No. 13 quarterback nationally and No. 5 player in Pennsylvania, and Michael Van Buren of Baltimore St. Frances, the No. 17 signal-caller in the class, both rank high on the staff's board. Both vis- ited in January and are likely to return this spring. The Lions will be pushing hard to sign at least one of these two. Other options to keep an eye on in- clude three-star prospects Jayden Bradford of Chapin, S.C., and Michael Hawkins of McKinney, Texas. Running Back Projected Take: 2 Quinton Martin, a four-star prospect from Belle Vernon, Pa., is one of Penn State's most important recruits this year. At 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, Martin could play multiple positions, but the Nittany Lions envision him as a running back at the college level. GETTING UP TO SPEED With the 2024 recruiting cycle entering a more intense phase, Penn State seeks to make up ground after a slow start RYA N S N Y D E R | R YA N. S N Y D E R @ O N 3 . C O M FOOTBALL RECRUITING Penn State is looking to keep running back Quinton Martin in Pennsylvania. In addition to PSU, the four-star prospect from Belle Vernon (Pa.) Area High is being heavily pursued by Ohio State, Michigan and many other schools. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER