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Can Penn State Football still finish with a top ten recruiting class?

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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Oct 1, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Abdul Carter (11) Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Abdul Carter (11) Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /

2. 4-star LB Kaveion Keys (267.58)

If Penn State football wants to finish in the top ten, it will have to flip commits from other teams.

One of the most likely flip candidates would be 4-star linebacker Kaveion Keys, who is committed to North Carolina. Keys, like Harris, took an official visit to Penn State back in June, but eventually ended up elsewhere.

The Tar Heels are currently 9-1 and could win the ACC. You would think that would make flipping a commit from the Heels difficult, but maybe not. The vast majority of UNC’s success is because of its offense, not defense.

UNC currently is giving up 31.3 points per game, which ranks 110th in the country. This unit is really struggling. On the flip side, Penn State’s offense has been strong all season, and the Nittany Lions can sell playing time.

Freshman linebacker Abdul Carter has played a huge role for Penn State this season, and the staff has shown they will play young players if they perform. Moreover, Penn State is expected to lose Curtis Jacobs and Jonathan Sutherland after the season, meaning more playing time will be up for grabs at the linebacker positions.

Flipping Keys would get Penn State to 267.58 points, the more commits a class has, the less points a new commit brings.

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