Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1528325
N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 4 5 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M I t's not often that Penn State heads into the final six weeks before the early signing period still working hard to finish off its class. By now, the staff has usually begun shifting its attention to the next class. This year is very different, though. Not only has the early signing period been moved up two weeks, to Dec. 4-6, but the NCAA also announced that scholarship limits in Division I football will expand to 105 starting next sea- son. Add in the fact that a handful of very good players in the region got away from the Lions this past summer, and James Franklin and his staff have reason to be aggres- sive in the final stages of the 2025 cycle. Unlike last year, when edge rusher Jaylen Harvey was the only addition to the 2024 class from August onward, this year's stretch run is setting up to be one that Nittany Lion fans will want to monitor closely. Following the addition on Oct. 14 of three-star defensive back Josh Johnson, a Louisville flip, Penn State had 25 players com- mitted, and it could still realisti- cally add a handful of prospects down the stretch. That list of contend- ers includes a few of Pennsylvania's top players, notably wide receiver Lex Cyrus of Harrisburg and tight end Andrew Olesh of Center Valley. Cyrus committed to South Carolina in July but ended up visiting Penn State on Oct. 5 for the game against UCLA. His decision to pass up an offer from the Nittany Lions was reminiscent of John- son's similar move. All signs pointed to Penn State in the days leading up to their respective announcements, only for both to head elsewhere. Franklin and his staff are hoping that Cyrus' recruitment will ultimately play out like Johnson's did. He hasn't dis- cussed it publicly much, but it's believed that the Lions do have a real shot to flip the 5-foot-10, 175-pound prospect from Susquehanna Township. On3 has awarded Cyrus four stars and ranks him as the No. 110 overall prospect and No. 18 wide receiver nationally, as well as the No. 4 player in Pennsylvania. Through eight games this fall, Cyrus was leading Susquehanna Township with 43 catches for 688 yards and 7 touchdowns. He also had scored on a 57-yard run. Olesh committed to Michigan in July after making it clear that the Wolverines and Alabama had been at the top of his list, but he's now planning to take an unof- ficial visit to Penn State for its White Out game against Wash- ington on Nov. 9. A four-star player at Southern Lehigh, he returned to Alabama for a visit in September, so PSU isn't the only school he's considering. How- ever, the fact that he's planning to visit just a month out from signing day is a positive sign for the Nittany Lions. Olesh, who stands 6-5, 215 pounds, had caught 32 passes for 631 yards and 3 touchdowns while adding 126 yards on 10 carries to help Southern Lehigh win seven of its first eight games. He is ranked by On3 as the na- tion's No. 47 overall prospect, No. 3 tight end and No. 2 player in Pennsylvania. Cyrus and Olesh aren't the only Keystone State prospects that fans need to keep an eye on. Back in the summer, Zahir Mathis of Imhotep Institute in Philadel- phia took an official visit to Penn State despite previously committing to Ohio State. Mathis was still committed to the Buckeyes as of mid-October, but the 6-5, 220-pound edge rusher also remains in contact with defensive line coach Deion Barnes and members of the PSU recruit- ing staff. It's unclear whether he plans to visit Penn State again, but he did have an official visit locked in with Ohio State for Oct. 26. Mathis is ranked No. 125 nationally Nittany Lions Still Seeking Additions To 2025 Class RYA N S N Y D E R | RYA N . S N Y D E R @ O N 3 . C O M FOOTBALL RECRUITING Four-star receiver Lex Cyrus of Susquehanna Township (Pa.) High committed to South Carolina in July but visited Penn State Oct. 5 for the UCLA game. PHOTO BUY RYAN SNYDER