Commit Breakdown: Penn State lands Jaylen Harvey
On Monday night, the Penn State Football team got good news when four-star defensive end Jaylen Harvey committed to the program. The Nittany Lions won Harvey’s commitment in a long and drawn-out battle with Maryland and, primarily, USC. Check out Harvey’s commitment video in which recruiting insider Ryan Snyder discusses Harvey’s journey to the Nittany Lions and his impact on the class.
We’ll also explain where he fits within the six-man defensive line class under first-year defensive line coach Deion Barnes. Harvey is the fourth-four start player on the defensive line for the Nittany Lions per the On3 Industry Ranking.
Penn State gets versatile edge rusher with interior experience
The Nittany Lions value many things on the defensive line, including length and explosiveness. Havey has those qualities, but he also brings something a bit different to the table. The Quince Orchard defensive lineman has extensive experience playing on the interior for his team over the last two years. He’s played three-technique, edge rusher, and played both the run and the pass from multiple positions. At 245 pounds, Harvey is nearly college-sized for his position despite his 6-2 frame.
Harvey is the second edge rusher in the Class of 2024 with top 100 pass rusher Mylachi Williams committing earlier this year. Williams and Harvey combined for a well-balanced edge class. Williams is a traditional Penn State defensive line prospect who is currently 220 pounds but has the frame to play at or above 250 pounds. Meanwhile, Harvey comes to the team with size and strength already in tow.
Lions were the clear front-runner from the beginning
As Snyder says in the video, you must follow the recruiting visits. Harvey made double-digit trips to Happy Valley throughout his recruitment, which was more than his visits to other schools combined. He was never shy about is love for the program.
“I like Penn State a lot,” Harvey said earlier this year. “My interest is very high in them. My relationship with the coaches, how they make me feel like a top recruit and the way they develop edge rushers have them up there. The way I feel there and how they coach guys like me up makes Penn State a program I would love to be a part of.”
Penn State now has 25 players committed in the Class of 2024. Seven of those players are four-star commits that rank within the top 200 players in the nation. Want to get a head start on the Class of 2025? Join Blue White Illustrated for 50% off the annual price for new subscribers.
