James Franklin has faced challenges in recruiting local talent to Happy Valley. Despite narrowly missing out on four-star wide receiver Lex Cyrus, he has an opportunity to bolster his offensive talent for the 2025 class with these three prospective recruits.
The 2024 college football season is approaching rapidly, with more than 40 days until Week 0 kicks off and even longer until Penn State heads to Morgantown for Week 1. Despite this, the attention of the Penn State fanbase remains fixed on building the 2025 recruiting class. Recently, four-star wide receiver Lex Cyrus from Harrisburg opted for South Carolina over Penn State, prompting James Franklin and his coaching staff to shift their focus to other potential recruits.
Despite the disappointment of missing out on Cyrus, who was seen as crucial both for his position and local ties, Penn State’s recruiting class still ranks No. 9 nationally with 22 commitments. The class is led by standout cornerbacks Daryus Dixson and Jahmir Joseph, indicating a strong emphasis on defense. However, securing one of the top offensive recruits could alleviate concerns surrounding the class.
Phillip Bell III
Bell remains the top-tier wide receiver prospect for Penn State in the 2025 class, viewed as a standout athlete with a four-star rating who has excelled in California high school football—an area where Coach Franklin has successfully recruited this year. Unlike Cyrus, he may not possess the same speed threat, but Bell compensates with exceptional route-running skills and remarkable agility for his build, offering the Nittany Lions a distinct offensive dimension compared to Jeff Exinor Jr., their sole four-star receiver recruit in this cohort.
However, Bell faces stiff competition from USC and Ohio State, both of which have expressed strong interest. While Ohio State’s depth at the position could potentially deter him, USC, located in Bell’s home region of Southern California, appears to be the frontrunner to secure his commitment.
Koby Howard
In the 2025 recruiting class, Penn State has already secured commitments from three players from Florida—Bekkem Kritza, Randy Adirika, and Antonio Branch Jr. This demonstrates that Coach Franklin and his staff are adept at recruiting top talent from the Sunshine State. Howard, known for his speed and proficiency in go-routes during high school, could be seen as a viable alternative to Cyrus due to his athletic abilities. However, concerns about his smaller stature and questionable footwork might slow down his adjustment to the college level.
Penn State and Ole Miss appear to be the primary contenders for Howard’s recruitment. He likely received an immediate call from wide receivers coach Marques Hagans following Cyrus’s rejection of Penn State’s offer.
Malachi Goodman
Penn State’s losses to Ohio State and Michigan in 2023 were often attributed to the perceived lack of wide receiver talent and Drew Allar’s struggles. However, deeper issues plagued the offense. James Franklin’s focus on Julian Fleming in the transfer portal and concerns over play-calling led to Mike Yurcich losing his job. Despite Olu Fashanu’s reputation, the offensive line, which wasn’t adequately upgraded, struggled against top-tier opponents.
During the Ohio State game, Allar faced significant pressure despite a relatively quick average time to throw of 2.85 seconds, enduring 23 pressures on 48 dropbacks yet managing to avoid being sacked often due to his pocket awareness. Against Michigan, he encountered 15 pressures on just 28 dropbacks with a similar time to throw. While criticism of Allar is justified, the offensive line’s performance in those games severely limited his opportunities.
Looking ahead to recruiting, Goodman represents a potential interior presence lacking in Penn State’s 2025 class, which currently features only two three-star offensive linemen. Offensive line coach Phil Trautwein has had successes in previous classes, including standout recruits like J’Ven Williams, Alex Birchmeier, Chindy Onoh, and Anthony Donkoh in 2023, followed by Cooper Cousins in 2024. However, the 2025 class lacks a foundational piece at this stage.
Goodman is expected to announce his commitment between late July and early August, with Penn State among his finalists alongside Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, and USC.
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