Penn State Misses on James Franklin’s “Must Get” Prospect | Where do Nittany Lions go from here?

Back in January, top 2025 offensive lineman Michael Carroll told Lions247 that James Franklin considered Carroll a “must get” prospect for Penn State Recruiting in the 2025 class.

Carroll, a four-star recruit in the 2025 class and the number five prospect in the State of Pennsylvania according to the 247Sports composite ranking, was a legacy recruit, with his father playing linebacker for Penn State in the 1990s under former head coach Joe Paterno.

Now, in June, Carroll is off the board and headed to Alabama. Carroll was previously scheduled to be in Happy Valley this weekend for an official visit but committed to the Crimson Tide Monday instead.

How Does Penn State Football Recruiting Pick up The Pieces?

Where do the Nittany Lions go from here?

With Carroll off the board, the Nittany Lions and offensive line coach Phil Trautwein hold the commitment from only one interior offensive lineman, three-star Michael Troutman, in the 2025 class.

Carroll’s commitment to Alabama makes offensive lineman Malachi Goodman an even larger target for Penn State in the 2025 class. Goodman is a four-star interior offensive lineman from Paramus Catholic in New Jersey.

Goodman, a 6-foot-5 inch, 315-pound lineman, ranks as the number 11 interior offensive lineman and the number 211 overall prospect in the country according to the 247Sports composite ranking.

#WeAre pic.twitter.com/S1FmoFkzlo

— Malachi Goodman (@_Malachi71) June 9, 2024

Goodman took an official visit to Penn State during the last weekend in May.

The official visit was Goodman’s third visit to campus according to 247Sports. In addition to Penn State, Goodman is being pursued by USC, Auburn, Georgia, and Alabama and has officially visited or is scheduled to officially visit all four.

Goodman is a key prospect to watch for Franklin, Trautwein and the Nittany Lions through the rest of the recruiting period for the 2025 class.

MORE: Penn State Lands Elite Cornerback Commitment for Class of 2025

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