OFFICIAL VISITORS

This past weekend was the first of what is shaping up to be three consecutive busy weekends in Happy Valley as the staff is hosting a bunch of official and unofficial visitors. We’ll start with arguably their top wide receiver target - KeAndre Lambert.

This was the first official visit Lambert has taken, which gave the Nittany Lions an opportunity to set the bar high for the four-star playmaker. As his recruitment carries on, the Nittany Lions will battle Clemson, Ohio State, Texas A&M, and Virginia Tech for his commitment.

A trio of defensive linemen were also in town on official visits — Ohio three-star Ty Hamilton, Michigan three-star Bryce Mostella, and New Jersey three-star Isaiah Raikes.

The Nittany Lions have long been among the leaders for both Hamilton and Raikes, with Hamilton being a Big Ten battle between Penn State, Michigan, and Ohio State, and Raikes being Texas A&M and Penn State. As for Mostella, his recruitment still appears pretty wide open at this point.

Right now, Penn State’s 2020 class holds just one defensive line commitment in the form of defensive tackle Cole Brevard so there are spots to be had in this class among the defensive line. Hopefully, this past weekend will result in an eventual defensive line commitment or two for Penn State.

UNOFFICIAL VISITORS

Headlining this group was a pair of Florida natives — 2021 running back Thad Franklin and wide receiver Bralon Brown.

Both Franklin and Brown attend Chaminade-Madonna Prep, the same high school that produced 2019 wide receiver signee John Dunmore. Thad Franklin is currently committed to Miami, but in the state of Florida no recruitment is over until letters of intent have been faxed in. The impact of running backs coach JaJuan Seider continues to be felt with recruiting in the state of Florida.

Another big 2021 unofficial visitor to campus this past week was defensive end Elijah Jeudy.

Jeudy attends Northeast High School in Philadelphia. One of the assistant coaches at the school is ex-Nittany Lion defensive end Deion Barnes, who as you can see, accompanied Jeudy on his visit. Jeudy is shaping up to be not just one of the top defensive ends in the state for 2021, but one of the top in the region so the more often Penn State can get him on campus the better.

CAMP STANDOUTS

Penn State hosted their Lion STRONG 7-on-7 camp and Big Man Challenge on Saturday, while the Elite Camp I took place on Sunday. There were standout performers throughout the weekend, including 2020 wide receiver Malick Meiga.

At 6-foot-4, 190 pounds with athleticism, the Montreal native Meiga is an intriguing wide receiver prospect.

Two other notable camp standouts were 2021 wide receiver commit Dont’e Thornton and offensive line target Landon Tengwall. In fact, for the second time in three years, Tengwall was named the MVP of the Big Man Challenge.

Tengwall is arguably Penn State’s top offensive line target for 2021. He has been on campus multiple times, but this recruitment will be a battle between Penn State, Michigan, and Notre Dame.

NEW OFFERS

A trio of players that were on campus over the weekend went home with offers — 2021 wide receiver Liam Clifford, 2021 quarterback Jake Rubley, and 2022 defensive back Mehki Flowers.

Before you ask, yes, Liam is Nittany Lion quarterback Sean Clifford’s younger brother. He is also shaping up to be one of the better wide receiver prospects in the Midwest in the 2021 cycle so getting in an early offer and having family ties are not bad things.

Rubley hails from Littleton, Colorado, while Flowers is an in-state product from Steelton-Highspire High School.

TOP GROUP

Florida wide receiver commit Leonard Manuel released a top seven on Thursday with one of the teams on the list being Penn State.

Manuel has not visited Penn State yet, however, the Florida connection with JaJuan Seider is apparent since the Nittany Lions are the lone non-southern school in his top group. We’ll see if Seider can work his magic once again, similar as to what he did last year with John Dunmore.