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Top Penn State defensive line target Damari Simeon will announce decision this week

Mug-Shot 4x4by: Ryan Snyder06/23/25RyanSnyderOn3
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Four-star defensive lineman Damari Simeon (Credit: Ryan Snyder | Blue White Illustrated)

The dead period may have started on Monday, but these next few weeks will be anything but for Penn State on the recruiting trail. Now that official visits are done for the summer and recruits can’t visit again until the 2025 season begins, the majority of remaining prospects in the 2026 class are closing in on their decisions.

One of Deion Barnes’ top targets, defensive tackle Damari Simeon, is the latest to confirm his date, announcing Monday evening on social media that he’ll wrap up his recruitment this upcoming Friday, June 27. He’s planning to announce around 5 p.m. Eastern time. Simeon’s top four schools are Penn State, Michigan, Ohio State and Texas.

Ranked No. 65 in the nation by On3, Simeon has long been considered one of Penn State’s most important defensive line recruits in the class. The Nittany Lions were among the first Power Four schools to offer him last July after he attended the 2024 Whiteout Camp. The Longhorns and Wolverines then offered in September. The Buckeyes offered him just a few months ago in February.

“Damari Simeon is truly one of the freakier movers along the defensive line we have seen this season,” said On3 national scout Cody Bellaire. “At 6-foot-2, 275 pounds, Simeon’s burst and lateral ability are off the charts. He is able to destroy blockers as soon as the ball is snapped, but also has the balance and body control to work down the line of scrimmage if the play is away from him. His ability to play with such low pad level and get underneath blockers pads allows him to manhandle offensive linemen with ease and it allows him to basically live in opposing backfields on every down. He has one of the highest floors in the entire country due to his ability to displace blockers consistently.”

So far, Penn State has earned two commitments at defensive tackle from Philadelphia native Alex Haskell and Delaware native Isaac Chukwurah. If they were able to add Simeon, who plays at St. Augustine Prep in South Jersey, he would end up being Penn State’s third-ranked player in the class, according to the Industry Rankings, which is what we use to rank each school.

The Nittany Lions could use some good news this week after missing out on a handful of key targets last week. Notre Dame landed three of the staff’s top overall targets at key positions, including safety Joey O’Brien, cornerback Khary Adams and offensive tackle Grayson McKeogh.

Currently, Penn State is the predicted favorite with Simeon according to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine, holding a 27.2 percent chance. However, it should be noted that no picks for any particular school have been added to the system at this time.

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