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Penn State, early Class of 2025 commit Omari Gaines part ways

Fitz headshot croppedby: Sean Fitz03/01/24SeanFitzOn3
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New Jersey defensive back Omari Gaines.(Credit: Daniel Althouse/BWI)

One of Penn State’s first commitments in 2025 recruiting is no longer in the Nittany Lions’ class. Newark (N.J.) Malcolm X Shabazz safety Omari Gaines announced on Friday that he has parted ways with Penn State in a move that has been building for weeks. Gaines originally committed to the Nittany Lions in March of 2023. 

The 6-foot-2.5, 185-pound athlete did not visit Penn State during the open period in January. He was last on campus for a game in October. Since the new year, Gaines had picked up offers from Central Michigan, Jacksonville State, James Madison, Towson and Stanford. Prior to his original commitment, schools like Duke, Ole Miss, Rutgers and Syracuse had offered.

Gaines was originally Penn State’s second pledge in the Class of 2025, joining fellow New Jersey product Jaelyne Matthews. Now neither reside on the Nittany Lions’ commitment list nearly a year later. After earning his offer from Penn State in April of 2022, Gaines visited five times before committing. He almost pulled the trigger in January of 2023 while on campus for a Junior Day, but held off until he was back in town for a spring practice.

“It’s a college town. I really like the vibe there,” Gaines said at the time of his commitment. “I really like how much they stress academics. It’s not just all about football with them. Your life after football is just as important. But I visited probably five or six times. I feel like I’ve built that relationship with the coaches. I like everything about the school, so I couldn’t think of any reason to wait. This is where I want to be.”

Gaines is the No. 43 safety in the nation and the No. 20 prospect in New Jersey in the Class of 2025 according to the On3 Industry rankings.

Penn State has 11 commitments in the Class of 2025 and before the Gaines commitment had the No. 13 recruiting class nationally in the current cycle. The Nittany Lions have a pair of commitments from the Garden State in linebacker DJ McClary and offensive lineman Michael Troutman. 

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