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Penn State

Nittany Lions set to host top-100 cornerback prospect Saturday

Screen Shot 2021-11-15 at 6.02.01 PMby: BWI Staff11/15/23
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Penn State will welcome one of its top up-and-coming recruits Saturday in cornerback Elbert Hill. (Credit: Ryan Snyder | Blue White Illustrated)

By Ryan Snyder

Penn State won’t host the overall depth of prospects that it did last weekend, but head coach James Franklin and his staff do expect some quality players on campus this weekend for its game against Rutgers. On Wednesday, one of the top prospects expected confirmed his plans, as Akron, Ohio, native Elbert Hill informed Blue White Illustrated that he’s set to return to Happy Valley on Saturday.

A Class of 2026 prospect from Archbishop Hoban, Hill is already considered one of the nation’s top prospects in his class, earning an early four-star rating from On3. He’s one of only 100 players nationally in the 2026 class to earn that rating so far.

Back in June, the 5-foot-10, 160-pound defensive back picked up an offer from Penn State after camping with cornerback coach and lead recruiter Terry Smith. However, there’s no shortage of competition here, as Hill also holds early offers from Michigan, Notre Dame and Ohio State. He also added an offer from Tennessee last month.

As most would expect, the Buckeyes are on pace be a serious player with Hill, as he’s now visited Columbus five times since the summer. He was just back on campus last weekend for the game against Michigan State. Also, Letterman Row’s Alex Gleitman logged a pick in On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine for Hill to end up committing to the Buckeyes back on Nov. 1.

However, Penn State isn’t far off when it comes to overall visits, with Saturday’s trip expected to be his fourth to Penn State since June. Hill was last on campus in September to attend the White Out win over Iowa. So far, those two schools hold a sizable edge on the rest when it comes to total visits. Michigan, Notre Dame, Pitt and West Virginia have all hosted him once.

But Hill isn’t the only notable sophomore from his school expected to attend, as wide receiver Payton Cook also confirmed Wednesday that he plans to make the trip. Unlike Hill, Cook will be visiting for the first time and hasn’t yet picked up an offer from the Nittany Lions. He has earned a handful of quality offers, however, with Kentucky, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, Pitt and Tennessee all offering the 6-foot-2, 175-pound receiver.

Archbishop Hoban is still alive in the Ohio state playoffs. After earning the No. 1 seed, they’ll face No. 2 seed Walsh Jesuit on Friday night.