Oh, Hello: Four-Star LB Jamari Buddin Commits to Penn State

THE SKINNY

Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 210 pounds
Hometown/High School: Belleville, MI (Belleville H.S.)
Ranking: ★★★★ (0.8970 247Sports Composite)
Notable Offers: Michigan, Michigan State, and Minnesota

HIGHLIGHTS

THE TALE

The Nittany Lions offered Buddin last summer, and since that time, Buddin visited Happy Valley twice: once, for the Michigan game in October, and the second time for a Junior Day before the world ended. Penn State became major players in Buddin’s recruitment when the Nittany Lions went on their run of Michigan prospects, landing the verbal commitments of Jaylen Reed and Kalen and Kobe King. Since then, Buddin began trending away from the in-state schools and towards the Nittany Lions. He made it official on July 17, making the call for the Nittany Lions.

OUTLOOK

Buddin is a really good athlete with an intriguing frame for a linebacker. He’s not asked to play much of a traditional linebacker role in high school, often lining up with a hand up on the line of scrimmage, so he’ll likely need some time to adjust to the different role he’ll be playing at Penn State. But with the depth chart that the Nittany Lions have at linebacker, they can afford to give Buddin time to adjust.

With Buddin’s commitment, it gives Penn State its 13th commit, six of which are four-stars. In what’s projected to be a smaller class for the Nittany Lions — working number appears to be in the 20-ish area — spots are becoming few and far between.