Penn State Nittany Lions 2021 College Football Recruiting Class Overview
Written by Charlie Beuttel
Twitter: @charlie_cds3
Penn State opened their 2020 season by losing their first five games, however the Nittany Lions recovered to win their final four to finish this hectic campaign 4-5. Their biggest wins came at Michigan (27-17) on Nov. 28 and against Michigan State (39-24) on Dec. 12. As good of a bounce-back the four-game winning streak was it ultimately felt like a disappointment for Penn State fans after finishing 11-2 in 2019.
The Nittany Lions and head coach James Franklin and are ready to contend for the Big 12 Conference title again with an eye on the College Football Playoff. The first step in their bounce-back is locking up a solid recruiting class and they have done just that securing letters of intent from 15 talented prospects all over the country.
The highest-rated recruit that signed early was four-star offensive lineman Landon Tengwall, who is the top-rated prospect out of Maryland. Another four-star recruit in this class is cornerback Kalen King from Detroit. Kalen’s twin brother, three-star linebacker Kobe, also signed with Penn State.
The Nittany Lions also secured a quarterback for their future in three-star prospect Christian Veilleux from Potomac (MD). Two transfers who will make an immediate impact in the program include defensive end Arnold Ebiketie, coming in from Temple, and running back John Lovett, transferring from Baylor.
Penn State’s recruiting class currently sits seventh in the Big Ten and 24th in the country but it is packed with the talent ready to bring the Nittany Lions back into conference contention and college football playoff contention.
Penn State’s Early Period Signees
OT Landon Tengwall, 6-6, 300, Good Counsel HS-Olney, MD
CB Kalen King, 5-11, 170, Cass Technical School-Detroit, MI
LB Kobe King, 6-1, 222, Cass Technical School-Detroit, MI
QB Christian Veilleux, 6-4, 201, The Bullis School-Potomac, MD
DE Rodney McGraw, 6-6, 255, Elkhart Central HS-Elkhart, IN
CB Jeffrey Davis Jr, 6-0, 170, Kingswood-Oxford School-West Hartford, CT
OG Nate Bruce, 6-4, 320, Harrisburg HS-Harrisburg, PA
WR Lonnie White Jr, 6-2, 210, Malvern Prep-Malvern, PA
S Jaylen Reed, 6-0, 190, Martin Luther King HS-Detroit, MI
S Zakee Wheatley, 6-2, 180, Archbishop Spalding-Severn, MD
LB Jamari Buddin, 6-2, 215, Belleville HS-Belleville, MI
WR Liam Clifford, 6-1, 195, St. Xavier-Cincinnati, OH
WR Harrison Wallace, 6-1, 180, Pike Road HS-Pike Road, AL
TE Khalil Dinkins, 6-3, 220, North Allegheny HS-Wexford, PA
K Sander Sahaydak, 6-2, 160, Liberty HS-Bethlehem, PA
Photo credit: Penn State News; Penn State Head Coach James Franklin