Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1518105
5 4 A P R I L 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 strengths on Friday night. I think that's the most important thing." In addition to Zollers, the Lions are in contention with three-star Baltimore native Malik Washington. All signs point to Washington taking official visits this summer, so Zollers should be deciding first. Depending on what happens there, Washington could be a player to watch as well. He's the No. 28 quarterback nationally according to On3 and has received four stars in the On3 Industry Ranking, which averages the grades of the four major online re- cruiting services. RUNNING BACK Projected Take: 2-3 With Tiqwai Hayes of Aliquippa, Pa., and Kiandrea Barker of Beebe, Ark., al- ready committed to the Nittany Lions, there's no pressure on position coach Ja'Juan Seider to add a third running back to the class. However, like all great recruiters, Seider is still involved with several of the nation's best prospects. Seider's list includes four-star pros- pects Alvin Henderson of Elba, Ala., Byron Louis of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Bo Jackson of Cleveland. Jackson, a four-star prospect who is listed as the nation's No. 5 athlete and No. 91 over- all prospect by On3, has visited Penn State four times. Louis and Henderson are looking into taking official visits to State College this summer. Another name to watch is Jabree Wal- lace-Coleman from Imhotep Charter in Philadelphia. The 10th-ranked running back in the country, Wallace-Coleman previously committed to Georgia but decided in December to reopen his re- cruitment. The four-star prospect has visited Penn State three times, the most recent trip being for a junior day in Jan- uary. If Penn State were to add a third run- ning back, it would most likely be one of the four players mentioned above. For now, though, it appears as though Hayes and Barker will be the only run- ning backs in the Lions' class. WIDE RECEIVER Projected Take: 4 Penn State added four-star wide re- ceiver Lyrick Samuel to its class in Feb- ruary, but the staff still appears to have three more scholarships to fill at the po- sition. Standing 6-4, 170 pounds, Sam- uel brings some much-needed length to position coach Marques Hagans' room. Even so, PSU continues to pursue others with size. The two most notable players to watch are Quincy Porter of Oradel, N.J., and Corey Simms of St. Louis, Mo. Porter has received a four-star rating from On3, while Simms is a three-star prospect. Both stand 6-foot-3 with the wingspan PSU is looking for at the po- sition. Simms has mentioned that he'll likely take an official visit to Penn State this summer. Beyond those two, there's no short- age of quality options. Four-star Florida prospect Naeshaun Montgomery has already locked in an official visit to Penn State for June. Others, like Taz Williams Jr. of Red Oak, Texas; Matthew Outten of Portsmouth, Va.; and Samari Reed of Coconut Creek, Fla., all rank highly fol- lowing junior day visits in January. Wil- liams, Outten and Reed have received three-star grades from On3. We've also received positive feedback for two of the staff's top targets: four- star wideout Lex Cyrus of Harrisburg, Pa., and three-star prospect Jeff Exinor of Baltimore. Both are believed to be leaning toward the Nittany Lions. Exinor has an official visit to Penn State locked in for June 7-9. Cyrus, who is listed as the No. 17 wide receiver na- tionally and No. 132 overall prospect, is planning to visit South Carolina and Miami this spring. It's unclear whether he will use his official visits in the sum- mer. TIGHT END Projected Take: 1-2 Penn State picked up a commitment from Pittsburgh prospect Brady O'Hara in the fall. At 6-6, 255 pounds, the North Catholic standout has primarily played tight end in high school but could grow into an offensive tackle at the college level. With O'Hara's position still to be determined, assistant coach Ty Howle C L A S S O F 2 0 2 5 C O M M I T M E N T S * Name Pos Ht Wt Rating** Home School Owen Aliciene OT 6-7 270 HHH Avon, Conn. Avon Old Farms Kiandrea Barker RB 5-11 185 HHH Beebe, Ark. The Woodlands (Texas) Dayshaun Burnett LB 6-3 215 HHH Pittsburgh Imani Christian Academy Tiqwai Hayes RB 5-10 190 HHH Aliquippa, Pa. Aliquippa Bekkem Kritza QB 6-5 185 HHH Boulder, Colo. Fairview DJ McClary LB 6-1 210 HHHH Jersey City, N.J. Henry Snyder Brady O'Hara TE 6-6 255 HHH Pittsburgh North Catholic Lyrick Samuel WR 6-4 170 HHHH Brooklyn, N.Y. Erasmus Alex Tatsch LB 6-2 215 HHHH Latrobe, Pa. Greater Latrobe Xxavier Thomas CB 5-10 160 HHH Canonsburg, Pa. Central Catholic Michael Troutman IOL 6-3 275 HHH Wayne, N.J. DePaul Catholic C L A S S O F 2 0 2 6 C O M M I T M E N T * Name Pos Ht Wt Rating** Home School Messiah Mickens RB 5-10 195 HHHH Harrisburg, Pa. Trinity * As of March 24 | ** On3 player rating as of March 24