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Penn State hosting a top recruit today; Lions send out a new offer in PA, more: Monday musings
Today 10:01 AM
Penn State recruit Zak Zinter visits for the Maryland game on Nov. 24, 2018. Joe Hermitt |
jhermitt@pennlive.com
By
Greg Pickel | gpickel@pennlive.com
The Penn State football team is beginning its third week of spring practice by hosting one of its top Class of 2020 recruiting targets.
North Andover, Mass., four-star offensive tackle Zak Zinter is on campus for an unofficial visit on Monday, he said on social media. The 6-foot-6, 300-pound recruit is the nation’s No. 225 player and the No. 23 offensive tackle according to 247Sports’ Composite rankings.
Zinter has offers from the likes of Notre Dame, Auburn, Duke, and almost 25 other programs. He last visited the Lions in November for the regular season finale opposite Maryland, so he has seen the Beaver Stadium game day atmosphere before, and now he’ll have a chance to get a feel for campus life during the spring while taking in practice to see how the coaches communicate and develop players in that environment.
Penn State has five 2020 commits to this point, but only one along the offensive line, as Michigan three-star Grant Toutant was the first pledge in this cycle.
Besides Zinter, the Nittany Lions’ wish list at tackle also includes four-star Mars High talent Michael Carmody, Washington, D.C. four-star Anton Harris, and Maryland four-star Aaryn Parks, among others.
Lions send out new PA offer
Penn State has not picked up its first Pennsylvania pledge in this class yet, and further, the Lions have only offered three players from the Keystone State.
The third verbal tender was just handed out over the weekend, as the program made a move to try and land Nicholas Dawkins, who is a three-star offensive guard from Allentown, Pa. The junior plays at Parkland and stands 6-foot-3, 300 pounds. Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Indiana, Pittsburgh, and some Ivy league programs have also offered.
“It’s cool because I grew up watching Penn State,”
Dawkins told Blue-White Illustrated.
“When I was younger and going through the years, a lot of people in my school and family have been Penn State fans, so it’s cool. I’m a Pennsylvania kid, so to get a Pennsylvania State [University] offer is great.”
Dawkins does not appear to have a decision timeline and will likely visit many other programs before making a call.
As for the state and region in this cycle, it’s quite strong, even if only three tenders have gone out in-state so far.
"I do think the region is really strong," Franklin said in February.
“And that’s important. It really is important, because obviously the closer they are, the better chance you have to develop the type of relationships that you need.”
More weekend recruiting news
A number of other prospects besides Dawkins came to campus over the weekend, including:
- Maryland Class of 2021 center Ryan Linthicum
- Ohio Class of 2020 three-star ends Brandon Taylor and Chris Mayfield
- Maryland Class of 2021 receiver Jalil Farooq
- New York Class of 2020 linebacker Cullen Coleman
Coleman picked up an offer, according to 247Sports.
The Lions continue to seek their first spring practice commitment. Drills continue through April 13, when the Blue-White game will take place at 3 p.m. inside of Beaver Stadium.