Penn State officially signs four-star lineman, longtime Class of 2023 commit Alex Birchmeier
The first player to pick Penn State in the Class of 2023 is officially a Nittany Lions signee. Head coach James Franklin and his staff announced Ashburn, Va., Broad Run High four-star offensive lineman Alex Birchmeier as a the second new member of the program on Wednesday morning. It is the first day of the early signing period in this recruiting cycle.
Birchmeier, who stands 6-foot-5, 280 pounds, verbally committed to Penn State on July 15, 2021. He is an On3 Consensus four-star who is listed in the equally-weighted recruiting industry rankings as the No. 50 overall player, No. 3 interior offensive lineman, and top player in his home state.
“I love competition,” Birchmeier told BWI in January.
“If you put anything into a competition format, it’ll probably make me work twice as hard. I don’t know what it is, but whenever workouts become competitive, it just takes things up a notch for me.”
Birchmeier was not only a standout high school football player. He also won two Virginia state wrestling championships. He visited Penn State multiple times during his recruitment and never wavered in his pledge despite claiming more than 30 offers.
“On the field, he’s just a real explosive, physical kid with a mean streak to him, and he finishes blocks really well,” Broad Run coach Matt Griffis told On3. “He’s exactly what you want in an O-lineman.
“During the workweek, he’s a really hard worker, he pushes himself, he pushes his teammates, and he’s always striving to get better. He’s a blue-collar kid. He’s a special kid. When it comes to high school, he’s phenomenal, but when he gets to college, the bar will rise, and he’ll rise to the occasion.”
Added Lions coach James Franklin on the Penn State produced National Signing Day show.
“You are a throwback, old school, no-frills football player. A high production, low maintenance [person], which is what every leader wants in his organization.
“Guys like this usually turn out to be everything that you want and more. I think you have a chance to be a captain, and come in an impact early. But, like dad says, if that doesn’t happen, you guys understand that as well.”
Birchmeier has an NFL comparison before he arrives at Penn State
Penn State will likely start Birchmeier at tackle despite the fact that he’s rated as an interior offensive lineman. On3’s scouts compare him to a guard at the next level, though: Former top-five NFL Draft pick and current Jacksonville Jaguar Brandon Scherff. He has made five Pro Bowls and was a unanimous All-American and Outland Trophy award winner in 2014 at Iowa.
“Alex Birchmeier’s build, movement skills and technical acuity remind us of Brandon Scherff,” On3 writes.
“Birchmeier’s background differs a bit from Scherff’s. The 2023 prospect is a state champion wrestler and plays on the offensive line in high school, while Scherff played all over the field in his high school career in addition to playing basketball and throwing the shot put.”
Birchmeier will enroll at Penn State in January. And, he aims to come in and compete right away.
“I would say that I’ve been working to learn all five positions,” he told BWI earlier this year. “I’ve been trying to get reps at tackle, reps at center. I’ve been practicing snapping. I just want to come in and be as versatile as I can be when I get to the next level.”
Follow Blue-White Illustrated’s early national signing day coverage by clicking here.
