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Penn State Football Recruiting: The top five remaining 2023 targets

By Alec Whitaker

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions watches the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium on November 06, 2021 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions watches the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium on November 06, 2021 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 16: Adisa Isaac #20 of the Penn State Nittany Lions lines up against the Indiana Hoosiers during the second half at Beaver Stadium on November 16, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 16: Adisa Isaac #20 of the Penn State Nittany Lions lines up against the Indiana Hoosiers during the second half at Beaver Stadium on November 16, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

DE/OLB Dylan Gooden

There haven’t been many recruitments this year that have been more intriguing than that of 4-star defensive end Dylan Gooden.

The son of former MLB pitcher Dwight Gooden, the 6-foot-4 defender is from Olney, MD, a region Penn State recruits well in.

Despite not taking an official visit to Penn State, Gooden put the Nittany Lions in his top group and announced a commitment date in August. However, Gooden later announced that he would be pushing back his commitment announcement and keep his options open.

It’s unclear how interested Penn State was over the summer when they had Parker committed, but that may have changed now.

There’s a belief that Gooden is better suited for linebacker than defensive end because of his size. Gooden is only listed at 204 pounds.

Penn State does already have two linebackers committed in Tony Rojas and Ta’Mere Robinson, but there’s a thought that Robinson could eventually develop into a defensive end. That way, Robinson would replace Parker and Gooden would take Robinson’s spot as an outside linebacker.

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