Ask Around: Who are the biggest commitments in Penn State's 2024 class?
Penn State will wrap up its Class of 2024 on Wednesday, with all 25 players expected to sign with the Nittany Lions in the morning. Head coach James Franklin and his staff haven’t dealt with much drama this year, which is always a positive in the weeks leading up to the early signing period.
Throughout the week, BWI publisher Sean Fitz and recruiting analyst Ryan Snyder are providing their thoughts on the key takeaways fans need to know about this year’s class in our ‘Ask Around’ series.
For Monday’s topic, we’ll start it off with the players we believe are the most important to the class.
Q: Who were the biggest gets in Penn State’s Class of 2024?
Ryan Snyder: There are a few players I could pick here. On one hand, I think Liam Andrews has the potential to be that elite defensive tackle that Penn State has coveted in recent years. However, when I watch Quinton Martin and all the different ways he’s been able to make an impact over the past few years, it’s hard to envision him not being a key piece in Andy Kotelnicki’s offense in the years to come.
Over the past few seasons, Martin not only made a major impact rushing the ball – he racked up 3,863 yards rushing on 391 carries for his career – but he also totaled 98 receptions for 1,438 yards receiving. We saw this past year how a lack of playmakers can impact an offense. Do I think he’s going to take many carries from Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen next year? Probably not, but I do think he’s physically ready to have some sort of impact early on.
But long term, Martin has to be excited about the change at offensive coordinator. I think he has a variety of skills that Kotelnicki can maximize. If he’s able to get a foot in the door early – Martin will enroll at Penn State next month, allowing him to participate in spring ball – he can use the 2024 season to build confidence before emerging as one of Penn State’s key contributors in 2025 and beyond.
Trimmings: Six Penn State players poised for a larger role in the Peach Bowl
Sean Fitz: What does Penn State need more than anything? Offensive skill players that can catch and provide an explosive dynamic to that side of the ball. That’s why I agree that Martin is probably the most exciting add in this class. Having said that, though, I’m going to go in a different direction and go with the guy that can get them the ball. Penn State did a good job of staying patient with its quarterback recruiting this cycle and ended up with Ethan Grunkemeyer in May.
That evaluation looks better and better every time he steps out onto a field. Truthfully, every time we posted a Friday night high school thread, it usually started with Grunkemeyer’s exploits on that particular night. Granted, some credit goes to whoever is running the Olentangy social page, but Grunkemeyer made some huge strides over his last year of high school. I’m eager to see what he can do at the Under Armour All-American Game in Orlando at the end of the month. Penn State looks like they found a strong arm who can make good decisions on the fly. Both are good traits for the most important position on the field.
Link: Transfer kicker Chase Meyer finds the right fit at PSU
Snyder: Grunkemeyer was the 41st-ranked quarterback in On3’s Industry Rankings when he committed back in May. We expected that to change with time, but I don’t think I would’ve predicted him moving up to No. 8 at the position (No. 7 by On3) if you asked me for a prediction at the time.
Circling back, I think Andrews has to be mentioned. Sean and I watched him camp as an offensive lineman the summer leading into his junior year, but his frame, strength and athleticism still work well on the defensive side of the ball. He’s going to need time to work with Deion Barnes to hone in on technique, but you don’t find many defensive tackle prospects in the region that bring the natural skills that he has. Penn State needs a difference-maker at that position. I don’t know if it’ll come right away, but I like his chances down the road.
Link: Why Penn State and Tom Allen are a great fit
Fitz: I’ll sign off with a dual entry. How about Penn State getting two legitimate corners from Florida and signing them both without much drama surrounding it. Jon Mitchell and Antoine Belgrave-Shorter each committed in early April. Belgrave-Shorter popped up at a Florida game, but that was about it. Notre Dame made a run at Mitchell when the Irish brought in his older brother as a transfer, but the Mitchell camp wasn’t having it.
On top of that, those are two guys that can help Penn State, maybe sooner rather than later. Both could play in 2024 and we know the Nittany Lions will be rebuilding at the position next year. It’s crazy to think that Penn State was able to lock down a guy just outside the Top 100 in the Industry rankings and his teammate, who some in the Lasch Building will say is the best defensive back the Nittany Lions will sign this cycle. Pretty crazy and if both of those guys hit, what a win that would be for Terry Smith.
