After another strong recruiting weekend, Penn State Football continued its dominance recruiting Pennsylvania, including the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) territory.

While sitting directly in in-state rival Pittsburgh’s backyard, Penn State has been able to poach top talent from the WPIAL for much of James Franklin’s tenure.

Over the weekend, Penn State Football secured a commitment from one WPIAL standout, while receiving a crystal ball from 247Sports analysts to land another.

Latest Penn State Football Commitment

Western Pennsylvania’s Latrobe native Alex Tatsch became the ninth member of Penn State’s 2025 class, announcing his commitment to the Nittany Lions Sunday night.

The 6-foot-2 inch, 213 pound linebacker ranks as the tenth best player in the State of Pennsylvania in the 2025 class and holds a four-star ranking according to the 247Sports composite ranking. Through his recruitment, Tatsch received 21 offers and chose Penn State Football over Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Michigan State, Maryland, and Notre Dame, among others.

With the addition of Tatsch, Penn State’s 2025 class ranks sixth in the country and holds commitments from four in-state prospects. Tatsch joins other WPIAL prospects Xxavier Thomas and Brady O’Hara in Penn State’s 2025 class.

WeAre 🦁
100% committed @PennStateFball @coachjfranklin @CoachAllenPSU @CoachRobbSmith @Coachdanconnor @ZemaitisTouch_ @CoachTerryPSU @LATROBEFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/414ubKbiKB

— Alex Tatsch (@AlexTatsch5) February 4, 2024

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Nittany Lions’ Latest Crystal Ball

In addition to securing Tatsch’s commitment, Penn State received momentum on another WPIAL prospect Sunday, as 247Sports insiders national recruiting analyst Brian Dohn and Notre Dame insider Tom Loy placed crystal ball picks for Penn State Football to land four-star linebacker Dayshaun Burnett.

Out of Imani Christian Academy in Pittsburgh, Burnett ranks as the thirteenth best prospect in the state of Pennsylvania in the 2025 class and the 344th overall prospect. As the class stands, Burnett would join New Jersey’s DJ McClary and Tatsch in Penn State’s linebacker room if he commits to the Nittany Lions.

Importance of Pennsylvania Recruiting

Penn State Football has a long history of recruiting well in Pennsylvania.

As the in-state powerhouse, Penn State has had the pick of the litter over the years for prospects wanting to stay in state to play college football, leading to Penn State’s recruiting slogan “the best in PA stay in PA and play for Penn State.”

In the 2024 class, Penn State secured commitments from seven of Pennsylvania’s top 15 prospects, according to the 247Sports composite rankings, including three of the top four overall prospects. Inside the WPIAL, Penn State picked up three commitments, four-star running back Quinton Martin out of Belle Vernon, three-star linebacker Anthony Speca out of Pittsburgh Central Catholic, and three-star wide receiver Peter Gonzalez also out of Pittsburgh Central Catholic.

In the James Franklin era, Penn State has dipped into western Pennsylvania for key pieces yearly to Penn State’s recruiting classes. In Franklin’s 11 recruiting classes at Penn State (excluding the 2025 class), Penn State has secured commitments from at least five of Pennsylvania’s top 15 prospects in six years and doing so each of the past three years.

Penn State has also secured the top overall prospect in the state of Pennsylvania for the past three recruiting cycles (the past five recruiting cycles if you count the transfer additions of top 2020 prospect Julian Fleming and top 2021 prospect Nolan Rucci). Penn State has also fared well picking up WPIAL prospects, securing a commitment out of the WPIAL in nine out of Penn State’s 11 recruiting classes under Franklin (excluding 2025), and getting more WPIAL prospects yearly as preferred run-ons.

With the momentum from last weekend, Penn State continues its dominance on the recruiting trail in Pennsylvania. Thanks to having three in-state prospects already on board in the 2025 class, and Penn State crystal balled for two more (Burnett and four-star offensive lineman Josh Williams), the Nittany Lions are well on their way to signing another class with at least five of Pennsylvania’s top 15 recruits.

The future is bright for Penn State in Pennsylvania recruiting as Penn State carries the momentum to continue its dominance over players who want to stay in Pennsylvania and play top tier college football.

MORE: Previewing Penn State’s Spring RB Position Battle

 

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