Penn State recruiting: Nittany Lions in heavyweight Fight with Notre Dame

Penn State Football’s 2022 recruiting class is off to a hot start, and that streak could continue, as long as they hold off Notre Dame.

Steve Wiltfong of 247 Sports reported during his “Wiltfong Whiparound” on Tuesday that the Nittany Lions lead for top-100 quarterback Drew Allar, but the Irish are right there.

"I think one is clearly the one to beat as we record this right now, Penn State."

He continued saying,

"I love where Penn State stands. Who’s the hurdle for them? It’s Notre Dame."

Penn State Football was the first big-time school to offer the Ohio product on Jan. 30. The likes of Michigan, Texas A&M and Washington followed in the days after.

Notre Dame was late to the party, offering on Feb. 25, but they’ve made it up for it with a linty of zoom calls with Allar.

Wiltfong notes that new Penn State offensive coordinator  Mike Yurcich has a great relationship with Allar that dates back to Yurcich’s time with Ohio State in 2019.

Head coach James Franklin and Penn State fans everywhere are hoping that relationship carries Penn State over the finish line.

Allar isn’t the only big-time Ohio recruit that the two power houses are at war over.

Tom Loy of Irish Illustrated (the Notre Dame 247) tweeted back in February that Penn State commit Kaden Saunders is a top target for Notre Dame and others.

Saunders turned heads in February when he ran a 4.31 40-yard dash time at the Best of the Midwest Combine.

Since then, other schools have turned up the heat on him, and Alabama, among others, offered. Still, he is committed to the Nittany Lions. Where a big-time quarterback like Allar ends up, could possibly play a role in where Saunders eventually signs.

It looks as though Penn State will have to keep up the pressure on both Allar and Saunders if they want the duo connecting for touchdowns in Penn State uniforms.