Blessed & Honored: 2019 Offensive Tackle Offer, Walk-On News, & More

PENN STATE OFFERS LOUISVILLE OT COMMIT

While Penn State continues to push for Jakai Moore, Trevor Keegan, and Darnell Wright, it got itself involved with three-star West Virginia offensive tackle Zach Williamson as well.

The 6-foot-6, 275-pound Williamson is currently committed to Louisville so we’ll see if he’s open to future visits. He originally committed to the Cardinals over the summer, picking them over offers from West Virginia, Pitt, and Virginia.

LIONS IN EARLY ON 2020 JERSEY DEFENSIVE END

Penn State hosted unranked New Jersey defensive end Aaron Lewis for the Michigan State game, but the 6-foot-6, 235-pound Lewis walked away from Happy Valley with an offer from the Nittany Lions.

Penn State became the fourth Power Five school to offer the South Jersey product, joining Baylor, Rutgers, and Temple in the process. Judging from his film, I doubt Penn State will be the last.

Lewis will need to get stronger at the point of attack, but he already does a nice job of using his length to disengage with blockers. Plays on the outside and on the inside which is good to see, because with his frame, he’ll probably bounce outside and inside at the next level too.

LIGHT WALKING ON

We don’t talk about walk-ons often here, but Penn State picked up Tyrone’s Denver Light for a PWO spot, flipping him from a full-ride offer from Fordham. Lions247 has a good rundown on Light, but the 6-foot-2, 206-pound Light is actually a pretty good athlete, and at least has the potential to provide some real depth here in Happy Valley.

2019 SPOTLIGHT: LB BRANDON SMITH

With news a little light, it gives us a chance to check in on five-star linebacker commit Brandon Smith who put out mid-season senior highlights.

Well, there’s a lot to like, isn’t there? Obviously we already knew about the size, athleticism, and instincts of Smith, but man, his closing speed is something else. Seeing Smith attack, and then violently bring down, that poor quarterback at the 45-second mark just highlights the level he plays at.

As there is for most linebackers, there will be a jump in the coverage responsibilities for Smith at the next level. But, fortunately, Smith will be enrolling early in January, meaning he’ll get all of spring ball to accustom himself to Big Ten football.