Deep Dive: Penn State cornerback target Kenny Woseley

Penn State’s Class of 2024 sits at two commitments at the present time. As the recruiting board continues to take shape in February, it’s time to start breaking down the priorities in the next cycle. 

The Nittany Lions offered Philadelphia cornerback Kenny Woseley Jr. as a freshman and they’ve kept up their pursuit in the time since. The three-star prospect could be nearing a decision as well. 

The Woseley File

Kenny Woseley Jr.
Cornerback
Philadelphia, Pa.
Imhotep Institute Charter School
5-10, 160

On3 Consensus: Three-star, 89.07 rating; No. 381 nationally, No. 38 cornerback, No. 10 in Pennsylvania
On3: Three-star, 88 rating; No. 49 cornerback, No. 10 in Pennsylvania

Recruiting Background

Woseley got onto the field early for Imhotep’s defense, which isn’t easy to do at a school that’s sent a number of defensive backs to the FBS level in recent years. He started picking up offers in the spring of 2021 and added the Nittany Lions to the mix after a team camp showing that June. Of course, Penn State was trying to establish itself in the city after a down period. Woseley piled up over two-dozen offers in the time since. He also visited Cincinnati, Maryland, Pitt, Rutgers and Syracuse, in addition to Penn State. He told Ryan Snyder last month that he wanted to see Michigan, Nebraska and Texas A&M in the spring. 

Quotable

“I love Penn State. It’s not just from a football perspective, but everything Penn State can do for you outside of football.”
– Kenny Woseley Jr. following his January Junior Day visit to Penn State.

How Kenny Woseley Jr. fits at the next level

Woseley isn’t an easy one to project at this point. His tape is good, but he’s a part of a defense that is often so overwhelming that everyone benefits. He plays field, boundary and in the slot. The latter is good because his size is something that could work against him at the next level. Speed is still a question mark because we don’t have anything verified at this point. He also doesn’t have to use it on tape so it’s hard to say where he falls on the 40 scale. He’s aggressive and a sound tackler for a cornerback. He does a nice job of establishing and keeping contain to turn the play back inside. Woseley plays with solid leverage and his footwork is above average. He’s a tough Philly kid who plays bigger than his 5-10, 160-pound frame. 

Fitz’s Thoughts

This one should be relevant sooner rather than later, as Woseley is closing in on a decision and Penn State is at the top of the list. Something by the end of the week seems likely, in fact. 

Penn State’s cornerback recruiting and development has gone up a few tiers since Terry Smith took over the group in 2014. Now on the verge of Penn State’s first-ever first-round pick from the secondary in Joey Porter Jr., there’s a legitimate buzz about the position nationally. The Nittany Lions are able to be a little more selective at corner than they’ve been in the past, and Woseley has the green light from the staff to jump on board. That, in itself, says something.

Woseley isn’t the prototype of what they’ve been able to develop in recent years from a size or length perspective. His size may push him to the nickel and that’s fine. He has the feet to make it work and he anticipates routes well. He’s also physical, which helps. His tape is good, although as mentioned earlier there are a few loose ends that we would like to see tied up (verified athletic numbers and maybe a camp performance). Unfortunately, we did not get to see Woseley match up with Tyseer Denmark in the playoffs because Denmark was not available for the game.  

The Nittany Lions have made it a point to try to get back into Philadelphia in recent years. Penn State brought in Keon Wylie from Imhotep in 2022 and that seems to be going well. The hit rate in Philly there is never going to be 100 percent with, for one, the number of offers that have been handed out and the recent move to look everywhere, especially down south. If you’re Penn State, you hope that Woseley can help out with an area priority target like Mylachi Williams. With Deion Barnes’ job status secured, it’s the next step in that process.