CRYSTAL BALL PICK LOGGED FOR 2022 OFFENSIVE TACKLE

Sitting 24 commits Penn State’s 2022 recruiting class, which is currently ranked number one nationally by 247Sports and ESPN and number two by Rivals, is close to completion. While there are not many spots James Franklin and his staff are still looking to fill one of them is adding another offensive tackle.

Arguably the top offensive tackle left on their board in three-star St. Frances Academy product Andre Roye. Roye currently plans to announce his college decision on September 22nd and the Nittany Lions have appeared to be the leaders for Roye since the summer.

Last week, Brian Dohn of 247Sports logged a crystal ball in favor of the Nittany Lions for Roye. Currently, this is the lone crystal ball prediction for Roye but it would not be a surprise to see more crystal balls come in for the Nittany Lions between now and September 22nd.

Roye officially visited Penn State the weekend of June 18th and was back on campus for an unofficial visit to the Lasch Bash in late July. Right now the Nittany Lions appear to be the team to beat for Roye and he could make it back to campus just a few days prior to his commitment for a visit to the White Out against Auburn.

Roye is an athletic offensive tackle with great footwork. He has the looks of a player who could climb up recruiting boards with a strong senior season. Additionally, the Nittany Lions finally cracking into both regional and national power St. Frances Academy would be a very good thing.

NEW OFFERS

As Coach Franklin and his staff continue to focus on future recruiting classes there were some notable offers extended in the last week. One of these offers was extended to four-star 2024 defensive lineman Jerod Smith.

Smith hails from Windsor, CT, where he attends The Loomis Chaffee School. Prior to the Nittany Lions offering, Smith already held Power 5 offers from Arizona, Boston College, Kentucky, Louisville, Ole Miss, Rutgers, Syracuse, Tennessee, and Virginia.

While Smith’s recruitment is still in its infancy he is a name that could pop up regularly for Nittany Lion fans the next few years. He is an in region defensive lineman and one that, despite being over two calendar years away from his National Signing Day, has already accumulated 10 Power 5 offers.

Another notable 2024 offer is one that was extended to an in-state product. This offer went out to Imhotep Institute edge rusher Jah’Sear Whittington.

Imhotep produced former All-Big Ten defensive end Shaka Toney and is the home of 2022 linebacker commit Keon Wylie. Penn State became Whittington’s second offer joining his hometown Temple Owls. With Penn State looking to make a big push to get back into Philadelphia recruiting, a push that found them success in the 2022 cycle, Whittington could become a big-time target for the Nittany Lions.