Penn State football in the running for top uncommitted player on early signing day

The early signing window in college football begins with early signing day on December 20. While most of the top recruits in the country already have firm commitments by now, there are still a few top talents on the board. 

Typically the best way to acquire some surprise talent into your recruiting class on signing day is by flipping a top prospect who is already committed to another school However, there are the indecisive few who have yet to make a verbal commitment, and James Franklin may bolster the No. 14 2024 recruiting class in the country with a four-star defensive lineman. 

Ernest Willor Jr. out of Towson Maryland is the top uncommitted player in the ESPN Top 300 but is the seventh highest-ranked recruit yet to pick a school according to 247 Sports. Willor is a four-star and 247’s 132nd-ranked player in the country. 

Currently, cornerback Jon Mitchell from Jacksonville Florida is Penn State’s only four-star on the defensive side of the ball in the 2024 class, so the addition of Millor would be huge. The 6-foot-3 255-pound Millor fits the Nittany Lions’ mold on the defensive line with size, athleticism, and versatility to play on the inside or the edge. 

With the departure of Chop Robinson for the NFL and the impending declaration by his counterpart on the defensive line, Adisa Isaac, Millor would provide much-needed depth as a freshman and a succession plan beyond Zuriah Fisher and Dani Dennis-Sutton at edge rusher. 

James Franklin has yet to aggressively pursue a defensive lineman in the transfer portal, only adding an offensive tackle and a kicker so far this offseason. 

With another four-star added to the class, Penn State would pull even close to Oregon which has the eighth-ranked class in the country and the second-best class in the Big Ten. 

Willor will decide between Maryland, Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Penn State, but Luke Fickell and the Badgers appear to be the favorite. 

Penn State typically doesn’t have a chaotic signing day. Franklin typically sees his recruiting class honor their commitments and doesn’t chase recruits to attempt a last-second flip, but he could make a big splash if he can sign one of the best commitment players in the country.