Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546159
5 0 S E P T E M B E R 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 P enn State has hit the ground run- ning in the 2028 recruiting cycle. Not only has the staff already landed two of Pennsylvania's top five overall prospects — quarterback James Armstrong is ranked third by Rivals, while defensive back Deonte Flemings is fifth — but the Nittany Lions are also considered the early favorites with a few other four-star prospects in the Key- stone State and around the Mid-Atlan- tic region. With more than a year still to go be- fore these players can sign, there will be plenty of changes to Penn State's board in the months ahead. For now, here are some of the key prospects we're track- ing closely. Quarterback Penn State picked up a commitment from Armstrong on July 2. A four- star prospect as rated by Rivals, the Aliquippa (Pa.) High standout is ranked as the No. 9 quarterback and No. 100 overall prospect in the 2028 class, mak- ing him one of the most important com- mitments of the Matt Campbell era so far. Armstrong threw for 2,232 yards and 21 touchdowns as a sophomore while also rushing for 799 yards and 16 more scores. A standout basketball and base- ball player, he was the first sophomore ever to be named the Pittsburgh Post- Gazette's Athlete of the Year. Running Back The Nittany Lions have extended of- fers to just over a dozen running backs at this point in the cycle. In June, Phila- delphia native William Howard be- came a name to know when he had a standout performance at one of Penn State's prospect camps. The 6-foot, 200-pounder also holds offers from Kentucky, Pitt and Syracuse, but we expect his scholarship count to increase substantially this fall. Howard totaled just over 1,500 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore at Spring- side Chestnut Hill Academy. Juelz Chiron-Robinson is another Pennsylvania native to keep in mind. A 5-10, 175-pound prospect from Down- ingtown, Chiron-Robinson had a very good showing at Penn State's prospect camp in June. As is the case with How- ard, only a few schools have offered so far — most notably Florida State and Virginia Tech — but a strong junior sea- son should see that change quickly. He rushed for 1,884 yards and 20 touch- downs as a sophomore in 2025. Both Howard and Chiron-Robinson are unranked, but another June visitor, Georgia native Christian Schettini, has a four-star grade and is ranked as the No. 6 running back by Rivals. He rushed for 1,436 yards and 18 touchdowns last season at Northgate High in Newman. Two other notable players from the Washington, D.C., area are Japhya Rou- Nittany Lions Are Off To Fast Start In 2028 Cycle RYA N S N Y D E R | RYA N . S N Y D E R @ O N 3 . C O M FOOTBALL RECRUITING Running back Juelz Chiron-Robinson totaled 1,884 yards and 20 touchdowns as a sophomore at Downingtown (Pa.) High. He's being pursued by Penn State, Florida State and Virginia Tech, and that list is expected to grow in the months to come. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS