Penn State wrestling adds more 2027 star power with commitment from top 10 recruit Clinton Shepherd

Penn State wrestling is adding another top 10 Class of 2027 recruit to its already loaded group of commitments in the next cycle. Indiana junior Clinton Shepherd picked the Nittany Lions on Saturday afternoon.

“After a lot of prayer I am proud to announce I’m committing to continue my academic and wrestling career at Penn State University,” Shepherd wrote on Instagram.

“Thankful for my family, coaches, and everyone who’s pushed me to get here also god for the guidance to put in my heart where I felt at home for the place I will pursue and chase my goals. Time to work!”

Shepherd is MatScout’s No. 6 Class of 2027 recruit. He is the outlet’s No. 3 wrestler in the country at 144 pounds. He projects to wrestle somewhere between 157-174 at the next level.

Head coach Cael Sanderson’s team made a massive recent surge in this recruitment. The Crown Point High standout put out a top eight in August that included only Iowa State, Cornell, Michigan, Virginia Tech, Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio State, and N.C. State.

“First, I want to thank every single program and coach who took the time to recruit me and believe in me. The relationships and respect I’ve been shown mean more than words can say,” Shepherd wrote on Instagram at the time.

“I’m beyond excited for the journey ahead — chasing my dream of becoming a World and Olympic Champion on the mat 🥇 while also pursuing my passion for dentistry (oral surgery) 🦷 in the classroom.”

Meet the Penn State Class of 2027

The Nittany Lions are loading up in the next recruiting cycle. Shepherd is the second junior to pick Penn State this week. Perrysburg, Ohio standout Grey Burnett did so on Dec. 2. He projects to compete at in the 125-133 pound weight classes.

Penn State now has verbal commitments in the Class of 2027 from Norwin, Pa., star Landon Sidun, who is No. 2 on MatScout’s 2027 big board, in addition to New York’s Gavin Mangano (No. 8), State College Area’s James Whitbred, and New York two-time state champ William Soto. Soto and Sidun are also wrestlers who look likely to compete in the 125- or 133-pound weight classes. However, projecting college weights at this juncture can sometimes be a bit of a fool’s errand. But, for what it’s worth, Mangano projects in the middle weights and Whitbred in the upper weights.