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Penn State Football: Takeaways from Jaxon Smolik’s commitment

By Alec Whitaker

Quarterback Jaxon Smolik of Dowling Catholicas makes a pass the Lions take on the Maroons in Des Moines, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021.1n5a3925 Jpg
Quarterback Jaxon Smolik of Dowling Catholicas makes a pass the Lions take on the Maroons in Des Moines, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021.1n5a3925 Jpg /
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Penn State Football
STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 05: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with head coach James Franklin after scoring a touchdown against the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half at Beaver Stadium on October 5, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

3. Keep the train rolling

Penn State’s recruiting efforts in the 2023 class had taken a few blows lately.

The Nittany Lions’ top two offensive tackle targets committed elsewhere and then highly touted 4-star defensive end Tomarrion Parker decommitted from Penn State.

A class that started off really strong started to show some cracks in the armor.

Penn State’s staff has regrouped nicely though.

On Thursday, they shocked a lot of people by landing 4-star wide receiver Carmelo Taylor out of the blue. After missing on Rodney Gallagher and Cam Seldon, this was won Penn State had to win.

The next day, Penn State comes back and lands Smolik. Replacing Marcus Stokes was close to the top of the priority list in the 2023 class and the staff got it done relatively quick.

Every time doubt starts to creep in with this staff on the recruiting trail, they go out and win a recruitment or two that no one really expected them to.

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