Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1538407
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 5 5 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Penn State picked up one of its top of- fensive line targets on July 5 when four- star prospect Marlen Bright announced his commitment to the Nittany Lions. A 6-foot-6, 270-pounder from DePaul Catholic in Wayne, N.J., Bright earned his offer from Penn State in June 2023 follow- ing a camp appearance. That was the first of what would turn out to be 30 offers, and it helped put the Lions in position to earn his commitment. Throughout his recruitment, Bright made it clear that PSU's early interest and overall consis- tency helped sell him on the program. "It was the love that I received from them from the start [that made a differ- ence] — from the first time they started recruiting me when I first went into [James] Franklin's office," Bright recalled. "I was going into my sophomore year but still a freshman at the time. That was a great moment I'll never forget." Offensive line coach Phil Trautwein also played a major role in his decision. Trautwein took an analytical ap- proach to Bright's re- cruitment, and it made a strong impression. "A l l t h e s e o t h e r coaches tell you how great you are," Bright said. "The first thing Trautwein told me was that I could get lower. I was like, 'You know what, you're right.' I learned quickly that Trautwein is the kind of coach who will always find a way for you to be better. He's never satisfied." Bright is listed by Rivals as the No. 222 prospect and No. 21 offensive tackle na- tionally, as well as the No. 3 player in New Jersey. He visited Illinois, North Carolina, Pitt, Rutgers and West Virginia, but by the time he saw most of those schools, he had already taken seven visits to State College. "Once I started exploring more schools, I realized, 'OK, it's Penn State.'" he said. — Ryan Snyder Penn State was having a good day on July 5, with four-star offensive lineman Marlen Bright announcing his commit- ment. The day got even better when four- star defensive end Tyson Harley revealed that he, too, was joining the class. Listed at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Har- ley visited State College twice in 2024, first for a camp in June, then again for the game against Ohio State in November. The Nittany Lions extended their offer in January 2025 during the contact period. That was a busy time for Harley, with nearly half his offers coming during that stretch. He eventually narrowed his list to five schools: Penn State, Rutgers, Michi- gan State, Maryland and Virginia Tech. His official visit with head coach James Franklin, position coach Deion Barnes and the entire staff came in the middle of a 20-day tour of various schools in June. "I thought the visit was great," Harley said. "I was hoping to see the brotherhood between the players, and it matched my expectations. You could see that all the players had genuine love for one another." Playing alongside five-star edge rusher Carter Meadows at Gonzaga College High in Washington, D.C., Harley was the more productive member of the pass-rushing duo last fall. He finished with 15 tackles for loss and 8 sacks, earning all- conference honors. Rivals rates Harley higher than any other re c r u i t i n g s e r v i c e , placing him at No. 169 nationally. He's the 22nd-ranked edge rusher and No. 2 overall prospect in Washington, D.C. In the Rivals Industry Ranking, he's No. 343 nationally and No. 36 among defensive ends. "I like Tyson Harley a lot," said Charles Power, Rivals director of scouting and rankings. "He's more productive than Carter Meadows. I think he's got a good combination of athleticism, while also still having a good frame to fill out. He's more of a developmental guy, physically, compared to Meadows, but he's got a lot that you look for with his athleticism and frame." — Ryan Snyder COMMITMENT PROFILE MARLEN BRIGHT COMMITMENT PROFILE TYSON HARLEY Early Offer Helps Nittany Lions Secure Coveted Lineman Penn State's 'Brotherhood' Impresses D.C. Edge Rusher Watching both Tyson Harley and Carter Meadows at Gonzaga, it's almost as if there was a restrictor plate put on their pass rushing last season. Both were care- ful defenders who didn't bust gaps but also didn't entirely fulfill their impressive potential. There's a chance that Harley will fully blossom at Gonzaga during his senior season if he learns to play with his hands more effectively. If the coach- ing staff was holding him back so that he could learn the basics first, there could be a big jump in his production this fall. Even if there isn't, Harley has the size, IQ and growth potential to become an all- around menace off the edge for Penn State. — Thomas Frank Carr P L A Y E R E V A L U A T I O N Given Penn State's depth and talent at tackle, Marlen Bright's best position within that group is guard. Even in his own recruiting class, there are several other players with better explosive testing metrics. That could put PSU in the enviable position of being able to move a 6-foot-6 lineman to guard. Bright has more than enough quickness and length to be a dominant guard if he develops the way his body suggests he can. Having his length and pad level on the interior would be a massive advantage for Penn State. However, Bright will get a chance to play tackle before that transition. If his quickness and speed improve with more lean muscle mass, he has a good chance of sticking at that posi- tion and becoming the player he appears to be on film. — Thomas Frank Carr P L A Y E R E V A L U A T I O N