Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1526526
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 4 4 9 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M P enn State was sitting at 25 commit- ments in its 2025 class as of early September. Typically, that would be a full allot- ment, but with scholarship restrictions easing and creative math taking over, the old limitations no longer apply. The Nit- tany Lions' staff may have a rough idea of how many prospects are too many for one cycle, but those considerations have more to do with roster balance than anything. If it sees an opportunity to bolster its class in the waning days of the 2025 cycle, Penn State is more likely than in years past to pursue that player. The approach, while somewhat dif- ferent, isn't going to be a complete de- parture from previous years. The way the Nittany Lions went about it in the past was to circle back to familiar names from earlier in the cycle. That meant rekindling relationships as opposed to building new ones overnight. Old names would become new again as "flip" season took hold. This year, one could make the argu- ment that flip season is already under- way at Penn State. In August, the Nit- tany Lions earned a commitment from three-star linebacker Cam Smith of St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia. Smith had been committed to Duke, but the wheels started turning in the summer, and PSU got him on campus for the Lasch Bash in July. Now he's slated to become a Nit- tany Lion. Less than a month later, the Lions struck it big by flipping top wide receiver target Matthew Outten from Virginia Tech. Outten, a three-star prospect from Portsmouth, Va., announced his change of heart on Sept. 2. It's likely that new names will pop up in the weeks ahead, but as of early Sep- tember, Penn State's most concentrated flip efforts involved the familiar prospects listed below. Zahir Mathis DE | Philadelphia | Imhotep Penn State has had staying power with Mathis since the summer. The Nittany Lions hosted the four-star Ohio State commit for an official visit in June and welcomed him back at the end of July for the Lasch Bash. Listed by On3 as the nation's No. 124 overall prospect, No. 12 edge rusher and No. 5 player in Pennsyl- vania, Mathis did not go to Columbus this summer, but the Buckeyes are still trying to keep him on board. The Nittany Lions' efforts, led by de- fensive line coach Deion Barnes, seem to be resonating. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Mathis is focused on his senior season, which started with a 38-20 victory over Clark- son North in which he was second on the team with 6 tackles. Schedule changes now have the Panthers playing a couple of Friday afternoon games, as opposed to all Saturday contests. Mathis will be free the weekends of the Kent State and Illinois games, so it will be worth watch- ing to see if he makes it to Happy Valley for one of those. Four-star running back Jabree Wal- lace-Coleman of Imhotep has been a part of the Nittany Lions' class since June, and a couple of Mathis' former teammates are having a good experience in Happy Valley. There doesn't seem to be a rush to this one, but Penn State re- mains the team with momentum. Lex Cyrus WR | Harrisburg, Pa. | Susquehanna Twp. Penn State kept in touch with several receivers following their initial commit- ments earlier in the cycle. After a whirl- wind summer, the Nittany Lions now Penn State Seeks Second Chance With These 2025 Prospects S E A N F I T Z | S E A N . F I T Z @ O N 3 . C O M FOOTBALL RECRUITING Although committed to Ohio State, four-star Philadelphia defensive end Zahir Mathis attended the Lasch Bash at Penn State in July. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER