Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1496986
M A Y 2 0 2 3 5 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Philadelphia defensive end Mylachi Williams and Tampa cornerback Jameer Grimsley were among the other notable names in attendance that day. Williams, who holds a four-star rat- ing, earned an offer from the Nittany Li- ons in January and has rocketed up the staff's recruiting board in recent months. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound edge rusher welcomed the opportunity to see new defensive line coach Deion Barnes work with his players. "He won't take it easy on you, but he will make sure to get you where you want to go," Williams said. "The players are just dogs. [Junior Chop Robinson] was for sure. He's a great pass rusher." Rated the No. 3 prospect in Pennsylva- nia and No. 195 player nationally by On3, Williams has planned an official visit to Penn State June 9-11. Grimsley is one of Penn State's top re- maining cornerbacks in the 2024 class. Assistant coach Terry Smith was the first Power Five coach to extend a scholarship offer to the 6-2, 185-pound prospect. Since then, more than two dozen schools have done likewise, joining the chase for Grimsley, who has received a three-star rating from On3 and is listed as the No. 45 cornerback nationally. Like Williams, Grimsley has locked in an official visit to Penn State for June 9-11. His relationship with Smith has helped put the Nittany Lions in strong position with the Tampa Catholic star. "He's a real down-to-earth dude. He seems really cool, really genuine. The players love him. I thought that was re- ally good," Grimsley said. "The players there really vouch for him. He's been around Penn State for a minute, too. He's been putting DBs in the league for a long time, so he knows what he's doing. I like his coaching style, too. I felt like I got to see a lot of what he's about." Despite having three cornerbacks al- ready committed in Mitchell, Belgrave- Shorter and three-star Philadelphian Kenny Woseley Jr., the staff would take Grimsley if they have the opportunity. Top Quarterbacks Visit Penn State also hosted all three of its top quarterback prospects in a three- day span from April 6-8. Michael Van Buren of St. Frances High in Baltimore was the first to visit. A four-star pros- pect, Van Buren is shaping up to be the most realistic of those players. He has an official visit set for June 16-18 and has now been to Penn State six times. Oregon is believed to be the staff's top competitor for Van Buren, who is On3's No. 17 quarterback and No. 297 overall prospect nationally. Philadelphia native Samaj Jones vis- ited the following day, April 7. The St. Joseph's Prep four-star recently an- nounced that Penn State, Oklahoma, Cincinnati and West Virginia are his top schools. The Sooners added a commit- ment from another quarterback days later, which is why many believe that Penn State and West Virginia are the main schools to watch in the battle to sign On3's No. 13 quarterback and No. 241 overall prospect. Jones and Van Buren may be the two most likely quarterbacks to end up in this class, but Georgia native Luke Kro- menhoek also remains in the mix. The four-star prospect visited Penn State April 7-8. Listed at 6-2, 190 pounds and rated as On3's No. 5 quarterback and No. 59 overall prospect, Kromenhoek plays at the Benedictine Military School in Sa- vannah, Ga. He committed to Florida State more than a year ago but has vis- ited Penn State twice since then, also attending the White Out win over Min- nesota last October. Wideouts Prioritized The April 7 visitor list was arguably the strongest of the year so far, with eight four-star players and one five-star mak- ing the trip. The five-star player, defensive end Dylan Stewart, also happens to be the nation's top-ranked prospect accord- ing to On3's scouts. Listed at 6-5, 240 pounds, Stewart has been to Penn State three times, but the Lions are likely out- Four-star Baltimore prospect Michael Van Buren was one of three highly regarded quarterbacks who visited Penn State in early April. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER