The Latest on Penn State's Signing Day
Penn State has arrived at the first finish line of the 202a3 recruiting cycle: the early signing period, which opens Wednesday. Players can begin signing their National Letters of Intent, and Penn State will celebrate them with a day-long ceremony.
Coach James Franklin began December with the nation's No. 14 class, according to Sports Illustrated, one that has changed and still might. So let's track those changes.
Is Everyone Signing?
Franklin usually runs pretty smooth Signing Day ceremonies, with NFL Draft-themed introductions, video chats with the new class and special guests from former players. He likes an orderly flow and quiet day behind the scenes. That will be something to watch Wednesday.
One interesting player to follow is safety Conrad Hussey. The 4-star prospect from Florida, who helped St. Thomas Aquinas to a state title, has continued the recruiting process in December. He visited Florida State and has been in touch with Miami as well.
Hussey committed in April, saying that Penn State had been "recruiting me hardest since day one." Will that be enough to get the LOI signed?
Penn State Adds a 2023 Running Back
The Lions pulled a running back from Georgia two days before Signing Day, as 3-star prospect Cameron Wallace announced his commitment.
Wallace (6-0, 180) plays at Georgia's Montgomery County High, where he was voted the 3-A Division II player of the year. The two-way player rushed for more than 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns and led the team in tackles at safety.
Penn State recruited Wallace at running back, where he will join Pennsylvania's London Montgomery in the class. He recently visited both Georgia and Georgia Tech and received a visit from Franklin, running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider and safeties coach Anthony Poindexter.
Wallace became the 23rd player in Penn State's recruiting class.
Virginia Linebacker Commits to Penn State
Kaveion Keys, a 4-star linebacker from Virginia, capped Penn State's busy recruiting week with a third commitment. Keys announced his decision Friday at Varina High.
Keys is the second player to join Penn State's 2023 class this week after initially committing elsewhere. He committed to North Carolina in August but reopened the recruiting process in early December. That opened the door for Penn State, which had made Keys one of its leading defensive targets and has been recruiting him for more than a year.
Virginia Tech coach Brent Pry was part of the process while defensive coordinator at Penn State and recently took an in-home visit with Keys. Keys made an official visit to Penn State in June.
Keys (6-3, 205 pounds) had received offers from Texas A&M, Auburn, Florida, Kentucky and Pitt, among other schools. According to 247Sports, he's the nation's 15th-ranked linebacker and No. 4 player in Virginia. He helped Varina to the Class 4A state title in 2021.
Keys became the 22nd player to commit to Penn State's 2023 recruiting class. His commitment also gives the class six of the top 10 players in Virginia, according to 247Sports.
Lions Flip Lineman from Northwestern
Penn State built on its long-standing relationship at Maryland's McDonogh School with a commitment from defensive lineman Mason Robinson. The 3-star prospect announced his decision Tuesday, saying that he's "going back to where it all started."
Robinson had committed to Northwestern in May. Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald fired his defensive coordinator and defensive line coach following a 1-11 season. Robinson visited Penn State this past weekend and chose the Lions from an offer list that also included Tennessee, Oregon, Miami and Michigan. He recently received an offer from Notre Dame as well.
Robinson, the No. 11 player in Maryland according to 247Sports, is the latest player from McDonogh to choose Penn State. The Lions' current roster includes McDonogh graduates Curtis Jacobs, PJ Mustipher, Dvon Ellies and Dani Dennis-Sutton, all of whom play defense.
Robinson became Penn State's second commit in as many days, joining fellow defensive lineman Joseph Mupoyi. He is the 21st player in Penn State's 2023 class.
Connecticut Edge Rusher Commits
Joseph Mupoyi, a 3-star prospect from Connecticut, announced his commitment to Penn State on Monday following a weekend visit. The 6-6, 245-pound defensive end chose Penn State over an offer list that included Michigan, Auburn, Miami and Utah, Penn State's opponent in the Rose Bowl.
247Sports lists Mupoyi as a 3-star prospect and the No. 4 player in Connecticut. Mupoyi, originally from Congo, is relatively new to football but has demonstrated an athletic upside, as his Hudl film from St. Thomas More School shows.
Mupoyi is the 20th player to commit to Penn State's 2023 recruiting class and first since September.
In addition, Penn State debuted a sharp new video for coach James Franklin's announcements.
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