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Safety DaKaari Nelson commits to Penn State Football

By Alec Whitaker

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions holds Marcus Allen #2, Nick Scott #4, DaeSean Hamilton #5 and the rest of his players from running onto the field during introductions against the Washington Huskies during the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions holds Marcus Allen #2, Nick Scott #4, DaeSean Hamilton #5 and the rest of his players from running onto the field during introductions against the Washington Huskies during the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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Penn State Football added yet another member to its to 2023 recruiting class on Saturday with DaKaari Nelson committing. 

Penn State Football struck gold again with 4-star safety DaKaari Nelson announcing his commitment to the Nittany Lions on Saturday.

Nelson is the second Alabama native to commit to the Nittany Lions in the last five days, joining 4-star DE Tomarrion Parker. He is also the fourth commitment for Penn State as a result of the official visit period.

Nelson holds offers from the likes of Auburn, Arkansas, Clemson, Michigan and Texas A&M. He was on campus for an official visit back on the weekend of June 10-12. That visit clearly was a home run for the Nittany Lions.

He is rated as the No.271 player in the country and No. 23 safety in the 247 Sports Composite rankings.

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 203 pounds, Nelson is a big safety. That size, along with his physicality, makes him a candidate to eventually grow into a SAM linebacker for the Nittany Lions.

Here’s what Cooper Petagna of 247 Sports said about Nelson’s future position possibilities:

"Position projection will depend on physical growth but skill set points to playing closer to the line of scrimmage in a hybrid safety-backer role at the next level. Physical traits translate to playing more in the box with ability to play sideline to sideline and be of value in the passing game as a coverage defender."

Sounds like a SAM linebacker in Penn State’s system.

Regardless of position, this is another massive recruiting win for James Franklin and staff. All of a sudden, the Nittany Lions are a force in Alabama and the south. Taking advantage of Alabama recruiting at a national level and missing kids in their own backyard is a wise recruiting strategy.

That strategy worked in Ohio in 2022 as Ohio State overlooked a 5-star quarterback in Drew Allar and a top 100 wide receiver in Kaden Saunders. The Nittany Lions made both a priority and signed them.

The 2023 class is starting to take shape as it now has 15 members and ranks No. 3 in the national rankings. Penn State is on its way to another top 10 recruiting class.

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