Committany Nation: Pitt Game Bringing 2019 Recruits to Happy Valley

With Pitt being Penn State’s biggest non-conference game, the weather looking perfect, and a 3:30 kickoff, it’s no surprise that the staff will be using this Saturday to make an impression on recruits. While the uncommitted 2018 list is rather bare — not a whole lot of spots left — the Nittany Lions will be hosting a solid 2019 group.

Class of 2018 Well Represented

• The usual suspects will be on hand — Jesse Luketa, Aeneas Hawkins, Zack Kuntz, Charlie Katshir, Ricky Slade, Isheem Young, Nick Taburton, Shaquon Anderson-Butts, Nana Asiedu, and I’m sure a bunch of others.

2018 LB/DB Kwantel Raines via LandOf10

• The four-star Aliquippa defensive talent will be in Happy Valley for a game featuring two of his top five teams. It’s unlikely that Raines currently has the green light at Penn State, but as the Nittany Lions get a better sense of where they stand with the defensive ends, they may decide to turn up the heat on Raines.

2019 RB Jordan Houston via PennLive

• Last on campus for the Lasch Bash, Houston will be making the trek to Happy Valley this Saturday. He’s called Penn State his “dream school” in the past, and with the 2019 class currently having no commits, it wouldn’t be a shocker to see him get the class rolling this weekend.

2019 OT Andrew Kristofic via Lions247

• While Kristofic hasn’t landed an offer from Penn State yet, the WPIAL product has great size at 6-foot-6, 255 pounds. He probably won’t land one this weekend, but an offer down the road isn’t out of the question.

2019 DE Brandon Smith via LandOf10

• Perhaps the biggest name on this list, Virginia’s Brandon Smith will also be in town for this weekend’s matchup. It’s still a bit too early for Smith to make the call, but the Nittany Lions are in a really good spot here.

2019 DE Omar Speights via PennLive

• An outside linebacker-defensive end hybrid, Speights doesn’t have an offer yet, but that could change once the staff sees his junior film. If the Nittany Lions were to offer, they would probably be the favorites, as Imhotep has been good to Penn State in the past (i.e. Shaka Toney and Isheem Young).

2019 DB Tykee Smith via PennLive

• Teammates with Isheem Young and Omar Speights, Smith will be joining the Imhotep crew this weekend. Another solid player, but at this point, still no offer.

2019 CB Keaton Ellis via PennLive

• State College’s very own Keaton Ellis will be making that long, treacherous journey to Beaver Stadium once again. Obviously, Penn State is sitting well here.