Penn State Football Recruiting: 2026 DL Marcus Almada, 2027 OL Justyn Perez Discuss Nittany Lions Offers [EXCLUSIVE]
Earlier this week, Penn State Football extended scholarship offers to two linemen—one in the class of 2026 and one in the class of 2027. One is an offensive lineman, the other a defensive lineman.
Recently, NittanyCentral caught up with both prospects.
2026 Defensive Lineman Marcus Almada
Marcus Almada, a rising defensive lineman from Tabor Academy in Massachusetts, has had a busy week on the recruiting trail. On Monday, he received offers from both Penn State and Notre Dame, followed by an offer from Arizona State on Wednesday.
A big-framed, multi-sport athlete, Almada is a name Nittany Lions fans should expect to see climb the rankings in the coming months.
Almada certainly has the physical traits to thrive at Penn State, and the coaching staff made their interest clear.
“It was definitely crazy,” Almada told NittanyCentral, of receiving his offer. “Getting the call from Coach [Deion] Barnes explaining like how they love my film and the way that I play for my frame and the dynamic of where I could fit around the defensive line and then receiving that offer… It was definitely a great experience.”
So, is Penn State a serious contender for the Northeast standout?
“Definitely,” Almada says. “With Penn State’s kind of reputation, the way that they play football, how well their defense is ran, and the kind of usual reputation that they have for football [is] up there. I definitely want to come down to campus to kind of see everything and really help out my decision of where [I] eventually go.”
Almada, who is also a standout baseball player, acknowledged that scheduling spring visits can be difficult.
“Right now, I’ve only had official visits locked in with Kentucky, Syracuse, and Oklahoma State,” he said, while also confirming that he and Coach Barnes are working to set up an official visit to Penn State.
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2027 Offensive Lineman Justyn Perez
The other recent Penn State offeree NittanyCentral spoke with was Justyn Perez, a versatile offensive lineman from Kentucky. A member of the class of 2027, Perez has the ability to play anywhere along the offensive line, giving him significant flexibility at the next level.
Perez holds offers from Penn State, Miami (OH), Toledo, Eastern Kentucky, and Grambling State early in his recruitment. Receiving an offer from the Nittany Lions was a special moment for him.
“It was really [an] exciting moment,” Perez told NittanyCentral. “Because I’ve been watching Penn State since I was like in the third grade. I grew up watching Micah Parsons. So that was truly an honor when I got that, and I was blown away.”
Perez is currently scheduled to visit Ohio University, Western Kentucky, and Michigan State for spring practices. He also confirmed to NittanyCentral that he is working on setting up a visit to Penn State.
MORE Penn State Football News from NittanyCentral:
- Harrisburg High School Coach Talks Building a Nittany Lion Recruiting Pipeline
- Top Penn State Linebacker Recruiting Targets Open Up About Their Recruitments
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Purdy was born and raised in central Ohio and served for four years writing for his high school's newsletter. Currently studying Biblical Studies at Lancaster Bible College in Pennsylvania, Ian has been a lifelong Nittany Lion fan.
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