Penn State adds another four-star edge with pledge from Jayden Woods
Penn State football is continuing its torrid run on the recruiting trail. The Nittany Lions added another four-star edge to their Class of 2025 Wednesday when top-200 recruit Jayden Woods picked the program. The Shawnee, Kans., Mill Valley High product stands 6-foot-3, 228 pounds.
Head coach James Franklin’s program has added numerous players across multiple classes in June. A handful of them have committed since the summer dead period starts on June 24. Woods is one of them. Ranked as the No. 199 player overall in the On3 Industry Rankings and the No. 23 edge, he picked Penn State over Wisconsin, Purdue, and Tennessee. Florida was also in his April top five but did not receive an official visit.
“The connection with Coach Barnes and Coach [Torrence] Brown was great the whole visit,” Woods told BWI following his March 12 visit. “I could really see myself playing for them. Talking with Coach [James] Franklin was great too. He actually recruited my dad and was with him at K-State back in the day. Watching [Abdul Carter] and [Jameial Lyons] pass rush at practice was amazing. I got the chance to talk to [Dani Dennis-Sutton] about hand placement on pass rush, too.”
Woods joined Texas four-star Max Granville and Maryland four-star Cortez Harris as edge rushers in the Class of 2025. Pittsburgh four-star Dayshaun Burnett could also end up at defensive end. He’s currently listed as a linebacker.
Penn State has a family tie with Woods
Penn State rarely lands players from Kansas. But, there is a connection here, as BWI recruiting insider Ryan Snyder noted back in April.
“Woods’ father, Justin, was a 2007 running back recruit who played one season under James Franklin when he was the offensive coordinator under former Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder. Franklin ended up leaving K-State for Maryland the following year, but that connection has helped the Nittany Lions become a serious contender.”
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