Nittany news and notes: Penn State misses out on another priority receiver recruit and more
By Josh Yourish
Last week, Penn State’s 2025 recruiting class was dealt a massive blow when Harrisburg four-star wide receiver Lex Cyrus chose the South Carolina Gamecocks over the Nittany Lions. Cyrus was a crucial recruit for the class that lacks the necessary depth of elite talent at wide receiver, a position of weakness on the current roster, and was expected to head to Happy Valley.
The same could be said for Taz Williams Jr. a 247Sports composite four-star wide receiver who surprisingly chose Baylor instead of Penn State. Williams, the Red Oak, Texas product visited State College back on June 14 and has yet to take an official visit to Baylor.
Speaking at Big 12 media days last week after landing four-star and top 100 recruit Kamauryn Morgan, Baylor head coach Dave Aranda was asked about his recent recruiting success. His response likely explains the reason for Williams’ surprising decision.
Baylor's Dave Aranda gave a blunt answer at Big 12 media days on why the Bears are finding success on the recruiting trail.
— On3 NIL (@On3NIL) July 10, 2024
More: https://t.co/10IN8ROajC pic.twitter.com/i2Qb71GiuO
Penn State still has a top 10 class in 2025, but in-state recruiting has fallen off and wide receivers coach Marques Hagans has struggled mightily to bring talented players to Happy Valley. The limitations of Penn State’s NIL capabilities are starting to appear.
Four-star safety Rashad Johnson heading to SEC
On Sunday, one day after Williams spurned Penn State, James Franklin’s program lost out on another talented recruit, Rashad Johnson. The four-star safety from Bushnell, Florida chose the Georgia Bulldogs over Texas A&M, Penn State, and Louisville.
BREAKING: Four-Star Safety Rashad Johnson has Committed to Georgia, he tells me for @on3recruits
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 14, 2024
The 6’2 190 S from Bushnell, FL chose the Bulldogs over Texas A&M, Penn State, & Louisville
“IM HOME 🏡!! Go Dawgs🐶!”https://t.co/wuZevMihZU pic.twitter.com/2O2RU7TOoO
Johnson officially visited State College on June 7, but Penn State already has two safeties and five total defensive backs in its 2025 class.
More: Penn State track and field star heading to Paris Olympics
After finishing 16th at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in early June, Handal Roban will next toe the line at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Roban was selected to compete in the 800m, representing his home country St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Roban holds a career-best 1:45.95 from the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships when he finished third in the 800m. Following that performance last summer, he competed for his home country in the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, and finished 33rd running a 1:46.86.
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