DEFENSIVE LINE TARGETS SET COMMITMENT DATES
Two of Penn State’s biggest defensive line targets now know when their recruitments will end. It will start this Friday when Elliott Donald announces his college decision.
I will be committing on Friday, July 24th #Decision #HardWorkPaysOff pic.twitter.com/4BOFHHAkmE
— Elliot Donald (@ElliotDonald3) July 17, 2020
The four-star Pittsburgh Central Catholic standout is the nephew of NFL superstar, and former Pitt All-American, Aaron Donald. Due to these factors, the hometown Panthers are viewed as the favorites to land the younger Donald. That said, he has visited Penn State multiple times and always came away impressed. While Pitt will be the likely choice on Friday, Penn State appears to be running second and that made this more of a fight for Pat Narduzzi and company than it probably should have been.
Kelvin Gilliam, who is likely Penn State’s top defensive line target, will announce his commitment on August 22.
This young king will choose his kingdom on August 22nd!!! Happy birthday Momma❤️@capturingreali2 pic.twitter.com/O0EdZbBZmO
— “King” Kelvin Gilliam (@Kelvin_Gilliam2) July 16, 2020
The Virginia native has visited Penn State in his recruitment, and it appears this will be a battle between the Nittany Lions and Oklahoma Sooners. His lone 247Sports crystal ball prediction is for the Sooners, but it only has a confidence level of 5 out of 10. Gilliam has long been interested in the Nittany Lions, and has raved about new defensive line coach John Scott Jr. who he has had a relationship with dating back to Scott Jr.’s time at South Carolina.
Make no mistake about it, missing out of Gilliam would be a kick to the you-know-what for this coaching staff. For a lot of his recruitment Penn State has been the consistent team among his top schools, if not the flat out leader. He has game wrecking ability on the interior of the defensive line, and he is a borderline top-100 overall prospect for a reason. Combine that with the relationship Gilliam has with Scott Jr., and you have to feel good about Penn State’s chances, even with that lone crystal ball being logged for the Sooners.
AN EMERGING RUNNING BACK TARGET
Penn State continues to search for a running back in their 2021 recruiting class. A new target appears to be emerging at the position, and that player is Ke’Travion Hargrove.
The four-star Louisiana native de-committed from Louisiana Tech last Tuesday. After he de-committed, Hargrove told Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports that Penn State is one of three schools currently recruiting him the hardest, along with Florida State and South Carolina.
Hargrove has never visited campus and the odds of him being able to do so prior to December’s National Signing Day appear to be low. That said, the Nittany Lions are still a team to watch in Hargrove’s recruitment. He has not been either to visit Florida State or South Carolina, either.
NEW OFFERS
Penn State continues to grow their 2022 offensive line recruiting board. The latest 2022 offensive line offer went out to four-star Ohio native Aamil Wagner.
Truly blessed to say I received my 10th offer from Penn State University pic.twitter.com/BXneU9Cf1u
— Aamil Wagner (@AamilWagner) July 15, 2020
Wagner attends Wayne High School in Dayton, Ohio. Whenever visits are permitted to happen again, look for the Nittany Lion staff to get Wagner on campus for a visit.
FOUR-STAR WIDE RECEIVER’S TOP 5
Four-star wide receiver Jayden Thomas released his top five on Friday, this group included the Nittany Lions.
Down to 5…Thank you God #GoBlue〽️#GoDawgs #WPS #GoIrish #WeAre #TEwrAcademy pic.twitter.com/NgvdMf1pUw
— “JT”Jayden Thomas (@jgpt333) July 17, 2020
Thomas is a native of Atlanta and a two sport athlete as he also stars on the baseball diamond. The four-star prospect has not visited Penn State, and it is difficult to envision players committing to a school they have not visited. But in the era of the coronavirus, that may become the norm for a period of time.