2025 4-star LB DJ McClary commits to Penn State

Jersey City (N.J.) Henry Snyder four-star linebacker DJ McClary has committed to Penn State.

The 6-foot-0.5, 210-pounder chose the Nittany Lions over the likes of Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Rutgers, South Carolina, Tennessee and USC.

McClary is the No. 109 overall prospect and No. 10 linebacker in the 2025 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 3 player in New Jersey.

For more Penn State recruiting intel, check out BWI.

“I’m here to announce one of the biggest decisions of my life. I’ve finally come to the decision through this long journey of developing relationships with college coaches and stepping on big college campuses,” McClary wrote in his commitment announcement on social media. “So now I would like to thank all of the coaches that recruited me around the country. I would like to respectfully shut down my recruitment so I can now focus on my academics as well as my athletics in pursuit of being the next great PSU linebacker.”

He has been to State College multiple times, including for last season’s game against Maryland — a visit during which the Nittany Lions staff extended an offer to McClary. He was in Happy Valley over the weekend to watch Penn State defeat Iowa.

“I was shocked, but it’s saying I’m doing the right thing. So I’m just going to work harder and get better,” McClary told On3 after he was offered. “I know Penn State has had great linebackers in the past. I’m blessed to be offered by them.”

McClary plays on both sides for Snyder. As a quarterback, he ran for 2,107 yards and 25 touchdowns on offense while throwing for 504 yards and two scores. He also tallied 131 total tackles and 20.5 tackles for loss on defense as a linebacker.

While battling injuries this season, McClary has rushed for 401 yards and three touchdowns in three games while also throwing a touchdown pass. On defense, he’s managed 29 tackles, five tackles for loss and a sack. 

Penn State’s Class of 2025 now features three pledges. McClary joins four-star Texas running back Kiandrea Barker and New Jersey safety Omari Gaines in the Nittany Lions class. According to BWI, McClary is the first Penn State commitment at a White Out game since Liam Clifford and Nate Bruce pledged back in 2019. The projected visitor list in Happy Valley is one of the best of all-time for the program.

McClary does not currently have a publicly listed On3 NIL Valuation. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.