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Penn State Lands Running Back, but Quarterback Target Chooses Virginia Tech

New Jersey back Chukwuma Odoh chooses the Nittany Lions, while QB Peter Bourque commits to the Hokies.
Mark Wogenrich|
Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Matt Campbell looks on from the field during the Blue-White Spring practice at Beaver Stadium.
Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Matt Campbell looks on from the field during the Blue-White Spring practice at Beaver Stadium. | Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

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Penn State landed its second running back of the 2027 recruiting cycle and received public clarity at quarterback during a newsworthy recruiting day involving current and former Penn State head coaches.

Chukwuma Odoh, a 3-star running back from New Jersey, became the 17th player to commit to Penn State's 2027 recruiting class, while 4-star quarterback Peter Bourque committed to James Franklin at Virginia Tech. Here's how the two decisions had major implications for Penn State.

Chukwuma Odoh commits to the Nittany Lions

Odoh is the second running back in Penn State's 2027 class, joining 4-star South Carolina prospect Aiden Gibson, who committed to the Nittany Lions on May 12. Odoh is a 6-foot, 220-pound back from Paramus Catholic who is ranked as a top-60 rusher nationally and a top-25 player in New Jersey, according to the 247Sports Composite.

Odoh committed to Penn State after receiving recent offers from Miami, Kentucky, Maryland, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Syracuse. He also has offers from Pitt, Michigan State and Virginia, among others.

NJ.com named Odoh as a first-team all-state running back last season, after he rushed for 929 yards and 13 touchdowns on 122 carries. Odoh did that despite missing time with an injury. Odoh scored nine of his 13 touchdowns in the playoffs, reaching the end zone five times in Paramus Catholic's win over Red Bank Catholic.

Odoh's commitment represents a second recruiting win this week for running backs coach Savon Huggins, also a New Jersey native. Huggins was among the nation's top high-school running backs at New Jersey's St. Peter's Prep and played at Rutgers. Penn State coach Matt Campbell hired Huggins from Boston College, where he worked for former Nittany Lions coach Bill O'Brien.

Penn State's 2027 class ranks seventh nationally following Odoh's commitment, according to the 247Sports Composite.

Penn State turns its attention to QB William Wood

Franklin can claim a recruiting win over Penn State, as Bourque, the 4-star quarterback from Massachusetts, chose the Hokies over Georgia and Penn State. Bourque is the seventh-ranked quarterback in the 2027 class, according to 247Sports, and was the highest-ranked uncommitted quarterback remaining in the recruiting cycle.

Franklin, who has critiqued the NIL budget he had last year at Penn State, has devoted plenty of NIL resources into his quarterback room at Virginia Tech. He brought in former Nittany Lion Ethan Grunkemeyer, who started the last seven games last season, along with former Penn State commit Troy Huhn. As a top-10 quarterback prospect, Bourque commanded a healthy part of Virginia Tech's roster budget.

Campbell now turns his attention to William Wood, another Massachusetts quarterback. A top-30 quarterback nationally according to the 247Sports Composite, Wood also is considering O'Brien and Boston College. But Penn State recently sent five assistants to Massachusetts for a home visit with Wood, who plays at Xaverian Brothers.

Wood has not scheduled an announcement date. According to 247Sports, Wood had scheduled official visits for Boston College, Arkansas, Wake Forest and West Virginia before receiving his offer from Penn State in late April.

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Mark Wogenrich
MARK WOGENRICH

Mark Wogenrich is the editor and publisher of Penn State on SI, the site for Nittany Lions sports on the Sports Illustrated network. He has covered Penn State sports for more than two decades across three coaching staffs, three Rose Bowls and one College Football Playoff appearance.

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