The ‘S’ Zone – Prepping for Penn State’s second official visit weekend

Visitors have already started arriving for Penn State’s second official visit weekend of June. The Nittany Lions flipped the script from last weekend, when 12 of 13 visitors were uncommitted. This is the big commitment weekend, which will feature every player on the pledge list with the exception of Kari Jackson and the three players who announced on Sunday. This weekend the split will be 13 committed players to seven uncommitted targets. 

Here’s our latest look at the visitor list. 

The ’S’ Zone

Visitors at Penn State this weekend

(** Penn State commit)

**Anthony Speca – LB – Pittsburgh (Pa.) Central Catholic
**Antoine Belgrave-Shorter – CB – Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin
**Caleb Brewer – Ath. – Reading (Pa.) Wyomissing
**Cooper Cousins – Erie (Pa.) McDowell
**Corey Smith – RB – Waukesha (Wisc.) Catholic Memorial
**Donnie Harbour – OL – Waukesha (Wisc.) Catholic Memorial
**Eagan Boyer – OL – Cornelius (N.C.) William Amos Hough
**Ethan Grunkemeyer – QB – Lewis Center (Ohio) Olentangy
**Garrett Sexton – OL – Hartland (Wisc.) Arrowhead
**Jon Mitchell – CB – Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin
**Kenny Woseley – CB – Philadelphia (Pa.) Imhotep Institute
**Luke Reynolds – Westford (Mass.) Cheshire Academy (Conn.)
**Quinton Martin – RB – Belle Vernon (Pa.)

Jameer Grimsley – CB – Tampa (Pa.) Catholic
Jamonta Waller – DE – Picayune (Miss.) Memorial
Mylachi Williams – DE – Philadelphia (Pa.) Monsignor Bonner
Nick Marsh – WR – River Rouge (Mich.)
Nigel Smith – DL – Melissa (Texas)
Vaboue Toure – Saf. – Irvington (N.J.)
Xavier Porter – DT – Tampa (Fla.) Catholic

Commit Watch again?

Penn State picked up three public commitments from its first round of official visitors but still kept us on our toes with a surprise or two. This weekend seems a little more cut and dry, although nothing is ever black and white in recruiting. Penn State will enter the weekend in a great spot for a few guys, but the competition level is high for some. 

Two guys jump out while looking at this list and they were the two that Ryan and I identified first in our Ask Around regarding RPMs this weekend. We both believe that in-state defensive end Mylachi Williams and New Jersey safety Vaboue Toure have Penn State at the top of their respective lists. The Nittany Lions wouldn’t mind either shutting it down this weekend, as both still have other official visits scheduled. Toure, in particular, has two scheduled for next week to Kentucky and Oklahoma. 

The competition for Williams got a little clearer when he canceled his Notre Dame visit last weekend. He has trips remaining to Pittsburgh and Syracuse this month, but the Nittany Lions feel good about where they stand here. 

Again, no promises here, but Penn State is in a good spot and does well when kids make it to campus for these things. Having the other commits on hand is definitely something that could help as well. 

Penn State also strong for other visitors 

Looking down this list, Penn State is right in the mix for all of these guys as their respective focus narrows. Everyone outside of the two mentioned above has key visits scheduled that I think they’ll have to take before deciding. 

– As we mentioned this week, we’re hearing it is Penn State and Alabama at the top for Tampa Catholic cornerback Jameer Grimsley. Other visits remain to Florida State and Michigan, but this is a huge weekend for Grimsley. Penn State was the first Power Five school to offer him and he was blown away last time he was on campus. Alabama is obviously a formidable foe, but Penn State is fighting here. 

– His teammate, defensive tackle Xavier Porter, will make the trip this weekend as well. We feel like this one could go the Nittany Lions’ way if they push. Other defensive tackle prospects have emerged in the few months since he set his official visit up, so the Nittany Lions will get a feeling of where he stands on their board a little more this weekend. He has an official visit to Kansas scheduled for next weekend and one to NC State at the end of the month. Louisville is also strong here after an official visit last weekend. Given the Nittany Lions seem to be trending well at the position with guys like DeAndre Cook, it will be interesting to see if they push here. If they do, he’s a guy that could be added to the above section as a commit watch type of guy. 

– Penn State has had a slight lead for Jamonta Waller throughout the spring and the Nittany Lions have had some staying power with the four-star from Mississippi. Having said that, this one is far from over. Auburn and Florida feel like the strongest competition at this point and while he has a Georgia official visit scheduled as well but there’s conflicting information as to whether or not that will happen. He went to Auburn last weekend and will be at Florida this weekend. There’s still no Ole Miss official at this point, even though the Rebels lead on the On3 RPM. Penn State will have a chance to build on their strong January visit. He won’t make it to campus often, so this is a huge opportunity. 

– Penn State seems to have a slight edge for Michigan wide receiver Nick Marsh. The former Michigan State commit still has the Spartans on his list and an official visit at the end of the month, but the Nittany Lions have done a great job recruiting Marsh. He visited Pittsburgh last weekend and Kansas and Oregon rounded out his top five. The Nittany Lions would love to push him over the line this weekend, but he’s set an announcement for July 7. Penn State could put some space between itself and the competition this weekend. 

– Texas defensive lineman Nigel Smith will be back in town this weekend. The four-star prospect has been to town multiple times and he’s a big fan of the Nittany Lions’ staff. It still seems like Oklahoma is a strong player here and he was at Ohio State last weekend. He does plan to take his recruitment into the fall, as he’s already set up an official visit to Texas in September. Smith genuinely likes the Nittany Lions, but he’s been to a bunch of schools and of the visitors this weekend, he would be the biggest surprise to end up in the class. Stranger things have happened, though.

– Just one more note here, we are no longer expecting four-star tight end Caleb Odom on campus this weekend. Could see this one coming with Luke Reynolds in the boat, but that trip won’t happen. 

Nuts and Bolts

– As of now, Penn State is still scheduled to hold its second camp of the summer on Sunday. The Nittany Lions’ will host On300 2025 prospect Tony Williams from Florida this weekend and he’ll work out at the camp. Recent cornerback offer Marquet Dorsey said he’ll be in town this weekend from New Jersey. Recent wide receiver offer Lyrick Samuel is slated to be on hand as well. 

– Strong reviews so far for a few freshmen, but nothing earth-shattering. Andrew Rappleyea, King Mack, Cameron Wallace and Joseph Mupoyi are among those earning shoutouts so far during workouts.  Penn State is still awaiting the arrival of four members of its Class of 2023. Offensive lineman Chimdy Onoh, defensive end Jameial Lyons, defensive end Mason Robinson and wide receiver Carmelo Taylor. Onoh and Robinson are good to go. Lyons looks to be on pace to get in if he finishes strong. To his credit, he’s really done a good job of pulling everything together. Taylor is still up in the air from what I have gathered. He originally slated this weekend as his arrival date, but he’s gone dark with us since stating that back in May. It’s something we’re monitoring as the month progresses.

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