Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1544665
5 0 M A Y 2 0 2 6 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M but those three have emerged as posi- tion coach Savon Huggins' top targets. All three have official visits set with the staff through June. It's believed that Gibson, who rushed for 1,611 yards and 21 touchdowns for Woodruff High as a junior, along with Walker, who to- taled 1,669 yards and 20 touchdowns at Creekside High, were the more realistic options among those three. At wide receiver, the Nittany Lions added four-star prospect Landon Blum from Iowa, but they're projected to sign at least two more pass catchers. Pennsylvania native Khalil Taylor, a former Penn State commit from Pine- Richland High in Pittsburgh, remains a major priority. The nation's No. 17 re- ceiver, No. 94 overall prospect and No. 4 player in Pennsylvania, Taylor visited Penn State twice this spring. An offi- cial visit is expected to happen in June, while schools like Georgia and Alabama also have official visits locked in. DeShawn Hall of Prattville, Ala., and Jamir Dean of Alcoa, Tenn., are two other names to circle. They are un- ranked by Rivals, but both visited in April and now have official visits set with Penn State for June. Don Bosco Prep receiver Isaiah Alva- rez also has an official visit set to Penn State in June. The three-star prospect is Rivals' No. 98 wideout and No. 23 prospect in New Jersey. On the other side of the ball, Penn State is in a great spot in the defen- sive backfield, having added four cor- nerbacks and a safety so far. Four-star linebacker Blake Betton also committed, leaving four-star prospect Case Alex- ander of Washington, Okla., as a player to watch. Alexander is ranked as the na- tion's No. 123 overall prospect, No. 11 linebacker and No. 5 player in Oklahoma. Three-star linebacker Tyson Wash- ington of Springfield, Va., is also a top target for position coach Tyson Veidt. Washington is the nation's No. 40 line- backer and the No. 11 player in Virginia. "It was a great visit. I loved how they're all about football at PSU," said Washington following his April 2 trip to Penn State. "We saw how they operate things and what PSU is all about. I like what they're trying to achieve and the goals they've set for the program. I also watched how they practice. It was very intense. All the coaches I met showed love and emphasized how they could use me on the field." Penn State also added three-star New Jersey defensive end Carter Blattner on April 4, but the defensive line remains a priority moving forward. At defensive end, Downingtown, Pa., native Abraham Sesay was promoted to five-star status in April. Duke, Florida State, LSU and Notre Dame all had official visits set with Sesay for the end of May and into June. Penn State was expected to earn a visit, although it would likely have to be midweek with every other weekend full. Sesay is ranked as the nation's No. 16 overall player, No. 2 edge rusher and No. 3 prospect in Pennsylvania. Penn State was ahead of most Power Four programs when it offered Warwick, R.I., defensive end Elijah Guertin during an unofficial visit on April 2. Since then, the 6-5, 250-pound prospect has added offers from Florida, North Carolina, Pitt and Tennessee, among others. Guertin, who is ranked No. 41 among defensive linemen nationally and No. 1 in Rhode Island, didn't have any official visits set as of April 23, but Penn State was con- sidered one of the favorites. "Getting this offer means so much because it's simply a blessing from God himself," Guertin said. "I would say it's one of my top schools, for sure." Defensive tackle was one of the staff's biggest needs coming out of spring ball. Fortunately for PSU, position coach Ikaika Malloe put the team in a good position with a few prominent play- ers, notably Philadelphia native Stanley Montgomery. Ranked No. 104 nationally, No. 10 at his position and No. 5 in Pennsylvania, Montgomery visited April 18 and has an official visit set for June 5-7. The Rivals Industry 2027 Team Recruiting Rankings As of April 28 Rk. School Commits 1. Texas A&M 13 2. Texas Tech 8 3. Oklahoma 20 4. USC 11 5. Ohio State 11 6. Oregon 11 7. Florida 10 8. Georgia 8 9. Notre Dame 10 10. LSU 4 15. Penn State 12 Downingtown edge rusher Abraham Sesay recently was promoted to five-star status by Rivals. PSU is hoping to arrange an official visit but looks to have an uphill battle ahead if it hopes to keep him in his home state. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS