La Salle College High School in Philadelphia has long been a talent pipeline to Penn State, delivering stars like Abdul Carter to Happy Valley, but that connection isn’t the only reason that the top recruit in Pennsylvania (according to 247Sports) is interested in the Nittany Lions in the 2026 recruiting class.
Joey O’Brien recently visited Happy Valley unofficially and is scheduled to return for an official visit in May. The four-star athlete came away from the trip to State College intrigued by the coaching staff’s plan to play him on both sides of the ball.
Penn State's specific plan to play blue-chip ATH Joey O'Brien both ways was the highlight of his latest visit to State College. He talks about that and more here: https://t.co/fuZnuZBTZO pic.twitter.com/b2r3QelJCK
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong_) April 20, 2025
Joey O’Brien could become a two-way star for James Franklin
There have been plenty of players in college football history who have played both ways. Deion Sanders, Champ Bailey, and even Jabrill Peppers captured the imagination of the sport as defensive backs with featured roles on the offensive side of the ball, but nobody in the modern era has ever done it like Travis Hunter.
Hunter won the Heisman Trophy last season as a true two-way superstar, dominating at wide receiver with 96 catches for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns while playing 776 defensive snaps, hauling in four interceptions, and registering 11 pass breakups. Now, Hunter is expected to attempt to play both ways in the NFL. While he’s yet to revolutionize professional football, his unforgettable season has already broken down the barrier in the college ranks and opened the minds of coaching staffs across the country.
As the 48th-ranked recruit in the country, the 6-foot-3, 185-pound O’Brien may not be a future Heisman finalist, but he could be the Nittany Lions’ first two-way star, and if playing the defensive back and wide receiver at both positions wins James Franklin a hotly contested recruiting battle with Clemson, Notre Dame, Oregon, Tennessee, and Ohio State, then it’s a worthwhile experiment.
While Penn State has struggled to add talent at wide receiver, the staff has excelled in recruiting the defensive backfield over the past few seasons, with cornerbacks coach Terry Smith and safeties coach Anthony Poindexter leading the way. So, O’Brien’s talents may be better utilized on the offensive side of the ball anyway, and if you can get two players for the price of one, even better.
As Penn State continues to contend for the College Football Playoff in future seasons, O'Brien could be a crucial chess piece for Franklin and his staff, and after Hunter's breakout year, he won't be the last recruit to be enticed by the possibility of a two-way role.