Penn State adds four-star defensive end Jaylen Harvey to Class of 2024
Penn State fans have been waiting months to learn where Potomac, Md., edge rusher Jaylen Harvey would end up. On Monday evening, they got the news they were hoping for, with Harvey officially choosing Penn State over USC and Maryland.
A four-star prospect in the On3 Industry Rankings, Harvey’s recruitment was close to ending back in the summer. Following nine unofficial visits to Penn State in just under two years, the Quince Orchard prospect admitted publicly that he was ready to decide following his official visit to State College, which took place June 2-4.
However, after thinking about it more, Harvey went on to take an official visit to Florida the following week, June 9-11. He followed that up with official visits to USC (June 16-18) and Maryland (June 23-25).
The Gators would eventually drop out of contention, narrowing Harvey’s list by mid-August. Although there was some speculation that he could decide in September, Harvey ultimately chose to not only focus on his season but also see how his top schools performed on the field.
Penn State never waivered, doubling down on its strengths. With one of the nation’s best defenses this year, which is led by former Quince Orchard edge rusher Chop Robinson, the Nittany Lions recruited Harvey even harder.
Link: Where do Penn State’s top Class of 2025 prospects rank in updated On300?
“I would say their communication, their honesty and I would say just the players they develop,” Harvey told On3 when asked about why Penn State was a top school for him.
The relationships he built with the staff were also a major reason why Penn State secured Harvey’s commitment. In addition to defensive line coach Deion Barnes, he spoke with head coach James Franklin regularly.
“He’s been a major factor,” Harvey said, when asked about the importance of Barnes. “Coach Barnes has been recruiting me since I was a freshman, so that’s a good connection that we got. [Franklin] has been playing a good role, too. He’s been keeping in contact with me, my mom, my dad. He’s been checking up on my entire family.”
With Harvey now on board, the Nittany Lions have six defensive linemen committed to the Class of 2024. Liam Andrews, DeAndre Cook and T.A. Cunningham are all expected to play defensive tackle. Xavier Gilliam, who plays with Harvey at Quince Orchard, could play edge or tackle, while Mylachi Williams and Harvey are both expected to be edge rushers.
Harvey is ranked No. 362 in the Industry Rankings, which combines On3, 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN for a cumulative ranking. He’s the 33rd-ranked edge rusher nationally and No. 11 overall in Maryland for the 2024 class.
Penn State is up to 25 total commitments now in the class, with 15 four-star players and 10 three-star prospects. They currently rank No. 12 nationally.
