Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1516624
5 0 M A R C H 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M / / / / / / / T H E C L A S S O F 2 0 2 4 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / P enn State made Philadelphia de- fensive end Mylachi Williams a priority during the first month of 2023. Williams was a rising junior at the time, and the Nittany Lions hosted him for an unofficial visit on Jan. 14. He left State College with an offer, the sec- ond in a recruiting process that had begun in earnest just a day earlier when Temple extended an invitation to join the Owls. Williams developed into a 6-foot-3, 220-pound edge-rushing force at Mon- signor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast Catholic. He totaled 138 tackles and 25 sacks during his junior and senior sea- sons, validating the Nittany Lions' early interest. "An offer from Penn State means ev- erything," Williams said shortly after the Lions extended the invitation to join their 2024 class. "I always watched them growing up, and especially with Penn State being close to home, it's great. I didn't have any idea [that they were] of- fering me. I just came up for the junior day. They saw how big I was, and boom, they offered. "I just loved the energy that was there from all the coaches. Overall, it's just a 10 out of 10. I really enjoyed myself. I took away from this visit that now I have a target on my back and I have to work harder." Williams visited seven schools at least once, a list that included Notre Dame, West Virginia, Pitt and Syracuse, among others. The Panthers and Orange joined the Nittany Lions on his list of official visits. Those three became the finalists. Through it all, Penn State held an edge because it was the first school to recognize his potential. Cornerbacks coach Terry Smith and defensive line coach Deion Barnes oversaw Williams' recruitment. Former PSU analyst Gabe Infante and head coach James Franklin played a role in closing the deal, as well. "They've all done just a great job throughout this process, staying con- sistent with Mylachi and his family," Bonner head coach Joe Muldoon said. "It was obvious early on that Penn State would be one of his top places. He's also very close with his mom and grandma, so anywhere that they could get in the car to go see him would be high on the list. They've been incredibly supportive of everything he does." He will likely need time to add weight and refine his technique, but Muldoon said he believes Williams has vast po- tential once he gets settled into Penn State's player-development system. "His reach, his length — it's what you would expect from someone who's 6-8," Muldoon said. "With the kind of coach- ing he'll get with those guys, the sky's the limit. "There's no doubt in my mind that if he stays on track and just continues to progress, he can be drafted. His path has been incredible. He's got that gene in him. He's incredibly blessed." — Greg Pickel Williams totaled 138 tackles and 25 sacks during his junior and senior seasons at Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast Catholic in Philadelphia. PHOTO COURTESY MYLACHI WILLIAMS MYLACHI WILLIAMS Nittany Lions like potential of Philadelphia edge rusher DE | 6-3 | 220 Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast Catholic Philadelphia Rankings Stars Nat. Pos. State On3 Industry ★★★★ 270 30 4 On3 ★★★★ 111 16 3 ESPN ★★★ — 53 15 Rivals ★★★★ — 18 9 247Sports ★★★ — 40 12 Statistics • Recorded 70 tackles, including 28 for loss and 13 sacks, with 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and 5 pass breakups as a senior • Notched 68 tackles and 12 sacks as a junior • Led his team to consecutive City League titles as a sophomore, junior and senior Notable • Catholic League MVP as a senior • Two-time All-Catholic League pick • Was a team captain as a senior, when the Friars finished 10-3 Recruitment • Committed to Penn State on July 8, 2023 • Recruited by defensive line coach Deion Barnes • Picked Penn State over Pitt and Syracuse • Officially visited on June 9, 2023 2024 Projection Williams is not one of the Nittany Lions' early enrollees. Because he isn't already on campus, the Pennsylvania native will face an uphill battle to earn playing time as a freshman. But even if he had arrived in January, he was going to need to gain weight before facing Big Ten com- petition. Williams is expected to redshirt this fall, giving him an opportunity to adjust to the college level in the hope that he will be ready to compete for snaps in 2025. They Said It BWI analyst Thomas Frank Carr: "Once again, Penn State found itself an underrated prospect who, while a project, has an incredibly high ceiling for his position. There are obvious hills to climb, but Williams is the prospect you want to take a chance on. He's long, explosive, and shows hints of elite skill at the position. He could be a high-level edge defender for the Nittany Lions with time, weight training and nutrition." T H E W I L L I A M S F I L E