Three Penn State commits who should move up in On3’s rankings following camp season
Penn State’s Class of 2024 is up to 20 commitments now, and that may very well rise by the end of the day as the Nittany Lions wait to hear from Washington, D.C., defensive tackle DeAndre Cook. Defensive line coach Deion Barnes has put the Lions in a good position with Cook. On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine leans heavily in Penn State’s favor.
Over the past few months, those who are already committed also participated in some sort of camp, whether it be a national camp like Under Armour or one of Penn State’s on-campus camps. After gathering information over the past eight weeks, it’s clear that some of Penn State’s future players are due for a rise in the rankings, which On3 plans to do in mid-July.
Below are three players we’ll be watching the closest.
1) QB Ethan Grunkemeyer
Penn State’s future quarterback, Ethan Grunkemeyer, has shined at multiple camps over the past few months. Most notably, it was his performance in Los Angeles at the Elite 11 Finals that stood out the most, with Grunkemeyer finishing No. 3 overall in On3’s Power Rankings.
“Ethan Grunkemyer was the most pleasant surprise at the Elite 11 Finals,” wrote On3’s Charles Power. “We entered the event having liked what we saw on video from his junior season and previous camps. With that said, the Lewis Center (Ohio) Olentangy product exceeded expectations. Grunkemeyer finished third in On3’s Top Performers from the event. He was the On3 MVP on Day 1, showing fluid, explosive ability as a passer. He continued to impress on the final two days.
“The Penn State pledge drove the ball down the middle of the field as well as any quarterback in attendance. The ball came out of his hand hot. We also liked his coordinated movement patterns. He was smooth in his drops and looked to have arguably the best mechanics on hand.”
Grunkemeyer, who trains with Drew Allar’s quarterback coach, Brad Maendler, currently holds an 89 overall rating by On3, which rates him as a high three-star prospect and the 23rd-ranked quarterback nationally. As we’ve now seen at 247Sports and ESPN, both of which promoted Grunkemeyer to a four-star prospect this week, the Olentangy prospect has made a strong case to be inside the On300 when the rankings are updated in mid-July.
2) TE Luke Reynolds
At one point this spring, tight end Luke Reynolds was the lowest-ranked player in Penn State’s class. The On3 Industry Ranking – which weighs On3, 247, Rivals and ESPN – had him ranked at No. 977 in the nation when he announced in late March.
Reynolds’ rise up the rankings has already begun, with both 247Sports and ESPN giving him a four-star rating. In fact, 247 has him within the Top 50 prospects in the nation now at No. 49 overall. Between the UC Report in New Jersey and the State College All-22 camp, Reynolds posted a 4.6-second 40-yard dash, a sub-4.3-second shuttle and had a vertical jump of 38 inches. Those are solid numbers at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds.
But when you also consider that he primarily played quarterback until midway through last season, Reynolds’ route running and hands has also grabbed the attention of scouts at every site.
“A number of skill players rolled through the Elite 11 Finals, working as pass-catchers on Day 1 and Day 2 and playing 7-on-7 on Day 3. No player among that group was more impressive than Luke Reynolds,” Power wrote following the national All-22 competition in Los Angles.
“For one, the Penn State pledge seemingly ran hundreds of routes without showing noticeable fatigue. Reynolds backed up his top-notch combine athleticism by showing excellent burst and change of direction within his routes. He also showed reliable hands and some physicality in contested situations. Reynolds currently holds a three-star rating from On3.”
Reynolds is now up to No. 222 nationally in the On3 Industry Rankings. Depending on where our scouting staff at On3 slots him, there’s a real chance Reynolds ends up in the top 150 in the Industry Rankings, maybe even higher.
3) WR Peter Gonzalez
Pittsburgh Central Catholic wide receiver Peter Gonzalez had arguably the most impressive camp performance of any prospect we watched at Penn State’s camps this month. Not only did he perform well during 1-on-1s and in positional drills, but he also tested great, running a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, a 4.25-second shuttle and a broad jump over 10 feet. At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, he’s not a small receiver either.
That camp, in addition to how he performed at the New Jersey UC Report and during track & field this spring – he ran a personal best 10.86 seconds in the 100-meter – made it easy on Penn State to add him to their class.
Currently, Gonzalez is the lowest-ranked player in the class by both On3’s rankings and in the Industry Ranking. How he performs this season will likely impact whether he earns a fourth star, but I think it’s safe to say that he should be moving up to an 88 or 89 overall rating, making him a high three-star prospect.
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