Where does Penn State rank in the 2025 Team Recruiting Rankings following the addition of LB Alex Tatsch?
Penn State picked up its ninth commitment in the Class of 2025 Sunday evening, adding Latrobe, Pa., native and four-star linebacker Alex Tatsch.
Listed at just under 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, Tatsch has long been considered a lean to the Nittany Lions. He admitted in December that he was considering a commitment following a talk with James Franklin but he ultimately decided to follow that up with two more visits in recent weeks.
Despite earning more than 20 total offers, many of which have come in recent weeks, Tatsch didn’t want to wait any longer.
“I’ve been going back and forth on doing this for some time now,” Tatsch said when asked why now was the right time to commit to Penn State. “I just know this place is the best fit for me. I have a great relationship with the coaches. I’ve always just felt comfortable there. I think we can do something special there. We can do something special, for sure. But also, it’s close to home and I feel like I fit well with the team.”
Tatsch currently holds a four-star rating in On3’s Industry Rankings. Ranked No. 292 nationally, he’s now the second-ranked player in the class behind only PSU’s other linebacker commit, New Jersey native DJ McClary.
Following his decision, the Nittany Lions’ 2025 class moved up one spot to No. 13 nationally in On3’s Team Recruiting Rankings. The class has an average grade of 90.861, which puts Penn State third overall in the Big Ten.
With nine total commitments, Penn State currently has the biggest class in the Big Ten.
Understanding On3’s Team Rankings
For those unfamiliar with On3’s Team Rankings, there are two major differences compared to other sites that you need to know.
1) We use the Industry Rankings, which puts together all four major recruiting sites – On3, 247, Rivals and ESPN – to find a commutative score for each prospect. It’s not based on just On3’s rankings.
2) On3’s Team Recruiting Rankings solve the problem of varying class sizes during the recruiting cycle by totaling the highest-rated commitments for each team based on a rolling average of current total commitments among Power Four schools. With it being so early in the cycle, that average is just three players as of early February.
So, if you’re wondering why Penn State ranks substantially lower at On3 when compared to 247 and Rivals, it’s because we’re aiming to project which position the Nittany Lions are on pace to finish at come National Signing Day.
Fans can read much more on On3’s Industry Team Recruiting Ranks by clicking here.
Around the Big Ten
As mentioned above, Penn State holds the most commitments so far, but because On3 is currently only grading the top few prospects in each class, the Lions still rank behind Ohio State and Oregon. The Buckeyes are just behind PSU with eight commitments. Of their top three commitments so far, two of them are five-star cornerbacks in Alabama native Na’eem Offord and Texas native Devin Sanchez. In fact, six of their eight commitments so far rank inside the Top 100 nationally. It’s still early, but Ohio State is once against off to an excellent start.
As for Oregon, the Ducks have just four total commitments currently. They haven’t earned a five-star commitment yet, but their top three players – WR Dallas Wilson, QB Akili Smith Jr. and WR Adrian Wilson – all rank in the Top 100. That’s put the Ducks at No. 5 nationally as of Feb. 4.
Behind Penn State, you’ll find Michigan, Wisconsin, Purdue and Nebraska all in the Top 25. The Wolverines sit at No. 16 nationally and have the least amount of commitments so far with just three players. QB Carter Smith and DL Bobby Kanka are both considered four-star prospects.
No. 21 Wisconsin has earned seven commitments so far, all of whom hold three-star ratings. The Boilermakers sit at No. 23 nationally and hold one prominent commitment from four-star cornerback Tarrion Grant. The Tennessee native is currently ranked No. 37 nationally. Finally, Nebraska sits at No. 25 nationally with four commitments, all of whom are three-star players.
