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Penn State down a 2025 commit as linebacker DJ McClary makes a Big Ten flip

Fitz headshot croppedby: Sean Fitz06/23/24SeanFitzOn3
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Future Penn State linebacker DJ McClary made a significant jump in the updated On300. (Credit: Ryan Snyder | Blue White Illustrated)

Penn State’s Class of 2025 added two members this weekend, but the Nittany Lions also lost a commitment on Sunday. Jersey City (N.J.) Henry Snyder linebacker D.J. McClary flipped his pledge from the Nittany Lions to Rutgers on Sunday afternoon. He had been committed to Penn State since September.

McClary officially visited both schools in June, most recently on campus with the Nittany Lions on the weekend of June 14. A potential flip has been rumored for a few weeks, as he visited Rutgers on the first weekend of June. BWI wrote earlier this month that the Scarlet Knights, who now have 28 commitments in the Class of 2025, prioritized McClary and turned it up when Manny Diaz left Penn State for Duke. 

Linebacker DJ McClary was the only other committed prospect to pop up elsewhere on an official visit this month. McClary went to Rutgers and the Scarlet Knights keep chipping away. His connection with the class is good, but also there was a window there from when Manny Diaz left and Tom Allen took over that Rutgers wedged for this occasion. It’s still something that he’ll continue to think about this summer. An eventual flip isn’t out of the question. 

McClary’s older brother, Isaac Holmes, played from Rutgers from 2010-2013 and is now on the staff at Snyder. 

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound McClary did it all for Snyder last year, doubling as a quarterback and linebacker. He completed 50-of-117 passes for 793 yards and seven touchdowns, while running for 1,420 yards and scoring 19 times on the ground. Defensively, he was credited with 94 total tackles and 14 tackles for loss. He added two sacks and an interception last fall as well. 

McClary is currently a four-star prospect according to the On3 Industry rankings. He’s the No. 203 prospect nationally and the No. 23 linebacker in the Class of 2025. 

Following the loss of McClary and the commitments of four-star running back Jabree Wallace-Coleman and New Jersey athlete Braswell Thomas this weekend, Penn State is back to 16 commitments in the Class of 2025. The group ranks 15th nationally and fifth in the Big Ten. 

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