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Should Penn State Football be concerned about losing any of its 2023 commits?

By Alec Whitaker

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 15: Head Football Coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions is seen on the sideline during the second half of a college football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on October 15, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Michigan Wolverines won the game 41-17 over the Penn State Nittany Lions. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 15: Head Football Coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions is seen on the sideline during the second half of a college football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on October 15, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Michigan Wolverines won the game 41-17 over the Penn State Nittany Lions. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) /
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The Early Signing Period opens on Wednesday, and Penn State Football is trying to finish strong. 

Penn State Football has built a strong recruiting class in the 2023 cycle, but it’s now time to hold onto that class.

The Nittany Lios currently have 23 commits in their 2023 class, with 3-star Cameron Wallace joining the class on Monday night. This class has been a fantastic follow up to the 2022 class.

While it is an exciting time, it’s also a nerve wracking one.

The Penn State football staff worked hard to create this class, and now they will work hard to keep it together. The Nittany Lions have had six decommitments this cycle, and they’d like to keep it at that number.

The majority of the commits are not a concern. The likes of Alex Birchmeier, Jven Williams, Joey Schlaffer, Lamont Payne, London Montgomery, Anthony Donkoh, Andrew Rappleyea, Zion Tracy, Tony Rojas, Ta’Mere Robinson, Jameial Lyons, Tyriq Blanding, Carmelo Taylor and Mathias Barnwell have all been committed for months (in some cases years) and have not visited other schools since then.

The newer commits, Kaveion Keys, Mason Robinson, Cameron Wallace and Joseph Mupoyi are also likely locked in considering they just committed within the last week.

The concern would normally be with the commits that have some distance between their homes and Happy Valley. That group includes Jaxon Smolik from Iowa, DaKaari Nelson from Alabama and three Floridians in King Mack, Elliot Washington and Conrad Hussey.

Smolik has shown no signs of wavering since flipping from Tulane to Penn State over the summer. Moreover, Mack and Nelson have both publicly stated that they are locked in with Penn State. Washington has been relatively quiet but did post pictures from his in-home visit with the Penn State staff.

All good there.

The real concern is with the Hussey. The 4-star safety has been committed to the Nittany Lions since April but may be having second thoughts. He was at Florida State for a visit a couple weeks back and was just at Miami this past weekend.

The Nittany Lions will do everything in their power to hold onto Hussey and will likely be in contact with him frequently on Tuesday and Wednesday morning before he sends in his letter of intent. Miami and FSU are both having strong finishes to the 2023 cycle and are each making a push for Hussey to stay home.

Holding on against two local teams that have momentum and likely have NIL resources will not be easy, but Penn State Football will not lose Hussey, or any other commit, without a fight.

Recruits can begin sending in their letter of intent at 7 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

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