No. 3 Penn State is hosting over 150 recruits on Saturday for its White Out game against No. 6 Oregon. The environment is something head coach James Franklin sticks with the young recruits in hopes of earning their commitments or flipping their decisions.
One recruit from the class of 2026, four-star Carter Gooden, is one recruit that the Nittany Lions (3-0) have a solid shot at flipping.
Penn State looks to impress four-star DL Carter Gooden in White Out
Gooden was initially committed to UCLA. On July 10, he announced his decision, but now with former head coach DeShaun Foster fired, anything is possible. Penn State was one of the teams that Gooden forwent when committing to the Bruins in the summer.
The four-star defensive lineman is the 193rd overall recruit from the class of 2026, according to 247Sports Composite rankings. He is the No. 26 DL and No. 1 athlete from Massachusetts. The Northeast tie is something Franklin can work with in order to lock down a high-ranked recruit.
In 2024, he was the ISL Defensive Player of the Year, recording 49 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and two forced fumbles.
With the way the blue and white's defense played over the first three weeks of the season, Gooden might find the Nittany Lions to be a good fit for him to succeed at the collegiate level. Though highlight reel-worthy plays were expected from Penn State against weaker, non-conference teams, it's unlikely that defensive coordinator Jim Knowles will let his defense slip through the cracks against the Ducks (4-0).
Gooden also has flashes of talent as a defensive end. Even though the Nittany Lions have a high level of talent at end with Chaz Coleman, Mylachi Williams, Mason Robinson, Jaylen Harvey, and Max Granville, it's useful for Franklin and Knowles to have those versatile players that can prove themselves at different positions. Especially seeing young players, like Coleman, get reps early on, it might entice Gooden to seriously consider flipping to another Big Ten school.
Penn State's defense needs to show up big again on Saturday, and under Knowles' watch, recruits might see a different layer to the defense that wasn't in effects in the first three weeks of the season. Between an impressive performance and the energy of a White Out at night at Beaver Stadium, Gooden might be on his way to change his mind.