Penn State Football: Who could be the next linebacker in the 2024 class?

Kris Jones

One of Penn State’s top defensive targets left on the board in 4-star linebacker Kris Jones from Virginia.

The Nittany Lions have done a fantastic job of recruiting state of Virginia in recent cycles, and there’s plenty of reasons to believe that will continue with Jones and others.

Rated as the No. 108 player in the nation, Jones holds offers from Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Tennessee. While this is stiff competition, Penn State should feel good considering Jones visited for the White Out game back in October and then was on campus again for a Junior Day in January.

Considering Speca and Jackson both profile best at middle linebacker, adding an athletic outside backer like Jones is a necessity for this spot in the class.

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, Jones excels as an outside linebacker both in coverage and while blitzing. In 2021 as a sophomore, recorded 142 tackles and 10 sacks, which is insane production for only being a sophomore.

Look for Penn State Football to try to get Jones on campus for an official visit in the summer.