The Penn State 2024 Recruiting Class Primer
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College football's early National Signing Day arrives Wednesday, which, alongside hiring two coordinators and navigating the transfer portal, has Penn State coach James Franklin running more ragged than he would like. Still, Penn State football's 2024 recruiting class is another strong one, ranked 13th in the 247Sports Composite with 25 players.
This marks Franklin’s third straight year pulling in a top-15 class nationally. The class ranks third in Big Ten recruiting, behind only Ohio State and newcomer Oregon. It’s also the third straight year Penn State has outpaced Michigan (No. 16 nationally) in the rankings. Let's take a closer look at Penn State's 2024 recruiting class.
RELATED: Meet Ethan Grunkemeyer, Penn State's next Ohio quarterback
Penn State's Top Recruits
The Nittany Lions made another huge splash, a Drew Allar-esque one, in this class with tight end prospect Luke Reynolds. A high 4-star prospect from Cheshire, Connecticut, Reynolds committed to Penn State on March 25 when he was still a mid-ranged 3-star. He has since been steadily climbing the rankings and even garnered 5-star status from 247Sports. In the 247Sports composite, which compiles multiple rankings, he’s the sixth-best tight end prospect in the country. At 6-4, 220 pounds, Reynolds could continue Penn State's recent success streak at tight end.
Another notable name is two-way star Quinton Martin out of Belle Vernon Area High School near Pittsburgh. Martin is a consensus 4-star and is the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania, marking the third straight year Penn State has brought in the state's top-ranked player. Martin (6-2, 200) is a dynamic running back with projections to play in the secondary at college as well. Martin ripped off a viral 92-yard score in this year’s state championship game, securing back-to-back titles for Belle Vernon.
Penn State seeks impact wide receivers
As part of the most-maligned position this season, any incoming wide receivers are going to have some extra pressure on their shoulders. But Marques Hagans’ first group as Penn State's receivers coach was a pretty successful one.
The Lions are set to sign three receivers Wednesday: 4-stars Tyseer Denmark and Josiah Brown and 3-star Peter Gonzalez. Denmark was a big win for the staff. He’s a Philadelphia native (Imhotep Charter) but was committed to Oregon for some time before making the flip. Penn State has had its struggles recruiting that area, especially skill positions, so Denmark’s pledge is important.
Brown was a long recruitment over a bevy of top schools, ultimately coming down to Penn State, Rutgers and Georgia after he visited each program officially. Brown is a consensus 4-star and a top-three player in New York. Meanwhile, Gonzalez is a big-bodied receiver, compared to the smaller and speedier Brown and Denmark, who has put up some gaudy numbers at Pittsburgh Central Catholic.
Who might play next year?
Wide receiver is a tough position to contribute right away, especially as the past few years have shown at Penn State. But it’s entirely possible for one of Brown, Denmark or Gonzalez to make some early flashes. Reynolds is in the same boat, as tight end is a crowded position that also tends to require a lot of muscle and weight gain. Of the previously mentioned names, Martin probably has the best chance because of his athleticism and multi-position potential, especially on special teams.
That said, a look at Penn State’s usage of freshmen in 2023 might provide some clues. Athletic defensive backs Elliot Washington and Zion Tracy saw tons of special teams run, as did linebacker Tony Rojas. That makes 4-star corner Jon Mitchell or 4-star safety Vaboue Toure prime candidates alongside any of the other defensive backs in the class. Some of the linebackers, like 4-star Anthony Speca, could join that group.
Best position group
Offensive line coach Phil Trautwein has been on quite the recruiting heater the past few years. This class is no different. It features six offensive linemen, including four 4-stars. Things can and will change once the players arrive. But for now, it’s a group of four tackles and two interior linemen. The most intriguing might be Cooper Cousins, an Erie, Pennsylvania, native and the nation's second-ranked interior lineman.
Franklin and Trautwein have put heavy emphasis on improving the offensive front, and it’s paying off. Give an honorable mention to first-year defensive line coach Deion Barnes, who has five players joining his group in the class.
Most interesting name
Let’s give the nod to Gonzalez, a Pitt legacy who chose the other in-state Power Five school. His father Pete Gonzalez was a Panthers quarterback and spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Peter Gonzalez recovered from a torn ACL to earn his Power Five offers and was nominated by the Steelers for the NFL’s inaugural Latino Youth Honors, which “aims to highlight Latino excellence, while simultaneously putting a focus on the next generation of football.” There’s always developing to do for prospects, but Gonzalez’s build (6-2, 200) is one Penn State has been missing at receiver for some time.
A note on transfers
Transfer players also are eligible to sign once the period opens Wednesday, and two players are committed to Penn State as of now: former Tulsa kicker Chase Meyer and Division II offensive lineman Alan Herron. Penn State has targeted other positions, especially wide receiver, where plenty of decisions are still yet to come. Notable names include Ohio State’s Julian Fleming, Indiana’s Jaylin Lucas and Miami’s Colbie Young, who initially transferred from Penn State pipeline Lackawanna Community College. And could the addition of defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Tom Allen, the former Indiana head coach, affect anything?
Penn State in the recruiting rankings
- 247Sports Composite: No. 13
- ESPN: No. 11
- 247Sports: No. 14
- On3: No. 15
- Rivals: No. 17
Penn State's 2024 recruiting class
(Rankings per the 247Sports Composite)
TE Luke Reynolds, 4-star (Cheshire Academy, CT)
ATH Quinton Martin, 4-star (Belle Vernon, PA)
QB Ethan Grunkemeyer, 4-star (Olentangy, OH)
OL/DL Liam Andrews, 4-star (Dexter School, MA)
OL Cooper Cousins, 4-star (McDowell, PA)
CB Jon Mitchell, 4-star (Mandarin, FL)
OL Garrett Sexton, 4-star (Arrowhead, WI)
ATH Dejuan Lane, 4-star (Gilman, MD)
RB Corey Smith, 4-star (Catholic Memorial, WI)
DB Vaboue Toure, 4-star (Irvington, NJ)
EDGE Jaylen Harvey, 4-star (Quince Orchard, MD)
LB Anthony Speca, 4-star (Central Catholic, PA)
DL T.A. Cunningham, 4-star (Grayson, GA)
OL Donovan Harbour, 4-star (Catholic Memorial, WI)
WR Josiah Brown, 4-star (Malverne, NY)
WR Tyseer Denmark, 4-star (Imhotep Charter, PA)
EDGE Mylachi Williams, 4-star (Monsignor Bonner, PA)
EDGE Xavier Gilliam, 3-star (Quince Orchard, MD)
WR Peter Gonzalez, 3-star (Central Catholic, PA)
DL De’Andre Cook, 3-star (Friendship Collegiate Academy, DC)
OL Caleb Brewer, 3-star (Wyomissing, PA)
OL Eagan Boyer, 3-star (William Amos Hough, NC)
CB Kenneth Woseley, 3-star (Imhotep Charter, PA)
LB Kari Jackson, 3-star (West Bloomfield, MI)
CB Antoine Belgrave-Shorter, 3-star (Mandarin, FL)
Max Ralph is a Penn State senior studying Broadcast Journalism with minors in sports studies and Japanese. He previously covered Penn State football for two years with The Daily Collegian and has reported with the Associated Press and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Follow him on Twitter (X) @maxralph_ and Instagram @mralph_59.
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