Penn State picks up commitment No. 4 from CB Kenny Woseley
Penn State picked up its second commitment in the Class of 2024 this week, adding cornerback Kenny Woseley Friday evening. A three-star prospect from Imhotep Charter in Philadelphia, Woseley has long been one of the staff’s top cornerback targets in the class, earning an offer back in June 2021.
Since then, he totaled five visits to Penn State, including a visit back on Jan. 28 for a junior day. It was following that trip that Woseley was firmly leaning towards the Lions, but he still considered visits elsewhere. A top four of Penn State, Michigan, Nebraska and Rutgers came out last week, but in the end, it was going to be hard for any school to pull him away from the Nittany Lions.
“It just felt right. It felt like the right time,” Woseley said. “They have some guys from Philadelphia on the staff and on the team. There are a lot of guys there from my area, so it just felt right. I’ve felt for a while now that Penn State is the right place for me. They’re doing great things.”
Woseley was primarily recruited by assistant coach Terry Smith and Philadelphia native Deion Barnes. Smith both oversees the city of Philadelphia and coaches the cornerback position, making this an easy connection.
“He cares about his players, on and off the field,” Woseley said, referring to Smith. “I can say that about the whole coaching staff, to be fair. They’re always making sure you’re good. But with Coach Terry, he was real consistent with me. He offered me before most schools. Coach came to both of our state championship games. He came to the school numerous times to see me. He just showed how much he cares.”
Penn State head coach James Franklin also had a big impact. Woseley said a conversation with Franklin during his most recent junior day stuck with him and his family.
“I would say I talk to Franklin almost every time Penn State calls me or I call them. He always tries to connect with me,” Woseley said. “Even when there are a few times when he’s busy and can’t, the next time we talk, he makes sure we get on the phone. It wasn’t like that with all the other coaches.
“Also, just being up there, I remember seeing how active he is with his players. He goes around the locker room and is always making sure guys are good. He’s straight up, too. He told us at the junior day something like, what you see now isn’t who I am as a coach. He was saying, if your kid comes to my school, just know I’m going to be hard on him. But he’s not doing it because he’s the coach and he has the power. He’s doing it because he has love for his guys and he wants to make sure we succeed. That was really special to me. It was just real.”
Woseley is the third defensive player to join the class. Linebacker Kari Jackson just committed on Tuesday, while Anthony Speca, who also plays linebacker, committed last month. Center prospect Cooper Cousins is the only offensive commitment so far.
Woseley said he’s built a connection with both players.
“I actually played Speca out in Pittsburgh a few years ago,” Woseley said. “I remember we actually got to know each other a little bit after that and talked some during visits. Coop, I feel like I’ve been talking to him forever. Like, it’s been more than a year that I’ve been talking to Coop. I know they’re both good guys.”
Woseley totaled 28 scholarship offers over the past two years. He visited Rutgers the most, but also checked out Cincinnati, Maryland, Pitt, Syracuse and West Virginia. He made it clear though that his recruitment is completely wrapped up.
“I’m locked in,” Woseley said. “I’m with Penn State, 100 percent.”
