Who are Penn State’s most important visitors this upcoming weekend?

Penn State is gearing up for its second of four straight weekends of official visitors in the month of June. After hosting 12 prospects June 2-4, James Franklin and his staff picked up three new commitments in the class, pushing its total to 17 players overall.

This weekend’s batch of prospects is predominately made up of committed players, but there are also seven uncommitted prospects already traveling to campus. Of those players, six of them hold a four-star rating in the On3 Industry Rankings.

But of those players, who are the most important heading into the weekend?

We countdown the top four below.

4) DE Jamonta Waller

The fact that Jamonta Waller is No. 4 here should tell you something about this list. Even safety Vaboue Toure, who I would have at No. 5 this week, would make the top three in most other weekends. I left Toure out mainly because Penn State just picked up Dejuan Lane and already has an impressive young core of safeties.

At defensive end though, Penn State needs some young difference-makers. We know Dani Dennis-Sutton will be productive the next few years, but behind him, last year’s class has some developing to do.

Waller’s explosion is simply on a different level compared to anyone they signed last year. Penn State also has a very good chance here, as I think they’ll ultimately duke it out with Florida for Waller’s signature.

I don’t see Waller committing until August, which also plays a role in him ranking fourth currently. But make no mistake, Waller is one of Penn State’s most important defensive prospects in the class.

3) CB Jameer Grimsley

Yes, Penn State has three cornerbacks committed, but Grimsley has always been one of Terry Smith’s top targets in this class. The only player that I think ranks close to him on PSU’s board is Ohio five-star Aaron Scott. It feels inevitable that Scott ends up with the Buckeyes, making Grimsley Smith’s best chance at landing another difference-maker who can produce early. He’s going to need those kinds of players too after this year.

But on top of all of that, Smith’s offer to Grimsley back in January is what kickstarted everything for the Tampa Catholic prospect. He had just one offer from Rhode Island at the time.

Now he’s a top 100 prospect and Penn State is duking it out with Alabama to sign him. When you’re the first to believe in a kid, and that offer is what puts him on the map, losing out on that recruitment has to hurt, especially when you’re still involved this late in the process.

Getting a win over Alabama also doesn’t happen regularly. Penn State has a real shot to do so with Grimsley.

2) DE Mylachi Williams

I’ll point fans back to an article that I wrote back in February to stress just how high Mylachi Williams ranks on their board. Since writing that, nothing has changed with Williams. They love just about everything when it comes to Williams and now have a real shot at closing on him in the near future.

Williams wasn’t able to travel much for unofficial visits. If he was able to make it out to Georgia, Michigan, Tennessee and some other top schools that offered, I think his official visit list would look a bit different currently.

Either way, Penn State needs to wrap this one up. Maybe he’ll go to Pitt and Syracuse in the coming weeks, but I also think he’s Penn State’s best chance at locking up a commitment this weekend.

1) WR Nick Marsh

For those of you who follow Sean and I closely, you’ll remember us stessing throughout the fall that Nick Marsh was PSU’s top receiver target in the 2024 class. It always came with the caveat of, ‘but he’s also committed to Michigan State.’

Since opening up his recruitment this spring, no school has recruited Marsh harder. He’s also one of those plus-one players that they’ll take no matter who’s committed at any point between now and December.

The good news for Penn State is that they shouldn’t have to wait long to get an answer, as Marsh plans to commit by July 7 at the latest.

It’s also notable that Marsh spent time with our On3 staff in Nashville two weeks ago. After multiple talks with Marsh, On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons logged an RPM for Marsh. This wasn’t a five-minute talk and a guess from Simmons. That came after multiple conversations over a three-day span.

The Nittany Lions need difference-makers at wide receiver.

Marsh is their best chance of landing one of those difference-makers.

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