Penn State 2021 WR Signee Lonnie White Jr. Signs with the Pittsburgh Pirates

UPDATE: White is signing with the Pirates for a signing bonus worth $1.5 million per Jason Mackey of the Post-Gazette.

Penn State’s 2021 signee Lonnie White Jr will not be making his way to Happy Valley to join the Penn State football program. On Monday, the Malvern Prep multi-sport standout will be signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was first reported by Joseph Santoloquito of PhillyVoice on Sunday evening that White planned on putting pen to paper, Monday. White was drafted 64th overall by the Pirates in this month’s Major League Baseball Draft on July 12th.

On the gridiron, White was a four-star prospect and one of the crown gems of the Nittany Lion’s 2021 recruiting class, ranked as the 168th overall prospect by 247Sports’s composite ranking as well the 27th ranked wide receiver and seventh-best player in the state of Pennsylvania. At the end of the recruiting cycle, he was the Nittany Lion’s second-highest-rated recruit, only behind four-star offensive tackle Landon Tengwall who was ranked as the 53rd best player in the nation.

While White signing with the Pirates may be disappointing for Penn State fans and the coaching staff alike, it is still a tremendous accomplishment from White. The athletic skill and overall talent it takes to be considered not just an elite football prospect but also an elite baseball prospect is truly remarkable. Plus, if baseball doesn’t work out for White, he could always try his hand at college football down the road.

While White begins his professional baseball career, the Nittany Lions are preparing to start fall camp on August 6 with their season opener against Wisconsin just 40 days away.