Penn State Class of 2024 positional strengths

Penn State isn’t done adding talent to the Class of 2024 just yet, but with 22 commits, we can begin to asses this group’s strengths and weaknesses. The team is still working to complete the defensive line class, but the group is otherwise filled out at every position group on the roster. 

So today, we’ll review the work by the Penn State staff and consider which position groups are strongest this cycle. 

Penn State’s early work on the offensive line holds strong

For a moment, the offensive line was almost the runaway winner of this class. However, some late losses on the recruiting trail have blunted the  

The foundation of the Penn State offensive line group is 6-6 offensive lineman Cooper Cousins. The Erie native committed to Penn State a year early and has been critical to the offensive line. Cousins has a versatile body type that can play multiple positions on the offensive line but will likely land on the interior, thanks to the strength of this group. His length and size at center could one day be a massive advantage for Penn State. He’s also developed well and is a solid 300 pounds with room to grow. 

While Cousins is important, the length at tackle sets this group apart. Garrett Sexton shot up the On3 rankings to 44th overall thanks to his potential, something we identified shortly after he earned an offer. Few offensive linemen are pushing 6-7 with Sexton’s length and movement skills. He’s still a considerable work in progress, but you can’t ignore the strength and tenacity he played with in his first season at the position. 

On the other side from the Wisconsin native is 6-8 Eagan Boyer. An underrated three-star prospect with great straight-line movement skills, Boyer has a similar upside to Sexton. We’ve seen Penn State’s strength staff work on flexibility and bend issues with players similar to Boyer, so he’s another positive projection. 

While the rest of the class lacks these three’s elite potential, they provide unique skills. Donovan Harbour showed great movement skills for a big-bodied guard prospect but needs to regain that previous form. Meanwhile, Caleb Brewer might be one of the best pure athletes recruited on the offensive line at Penn State. His length is an issue, but few players can match his explosiveness and movement at the position. 

Penn State offensive line coach Phil Trautwein nearly landed several other high-upside linemen this summer, but even without those players, this group is close to bulletproof in its makeup. 

Martin and Smith make a great one-two punch

It’s easier for large position groups to stand out when doing talent evaluations. Yet you can’t overlook a position like running back when it’s stocked with impressive talent like this one. The combination of Quinton Martin and Corey Smith is a fantastic one-two punch. Neither player is perfect from an evaluation standpoint, but both possess the skills to be productive players at Penn State. 

Martin sits just outside the top 100 players in the country thanks to his big frame and explosive breakaway speed. His profile is a bit of a double-edged sword, however. Thanks to the time he’s spent at receiver, Martin gets credit for being a dual-position threat. He’s better at running routes and catching the football than most high school running backs. But he’s not exceptionally advanced at either position. At 6-2, Martin is very tall for a running back and he runs very upright. These factors likely led On3 Scouting Director Charles Power to compare him to Derrick Henry. The issue is that Martin lacks the outlandish size of the Tennessee Titans’ running back. 

But either way, Martin has the tools to become a very dangerous, well-balanced offensive threat under the tutelage of JaJuan Seider. Penn State has a strong track record of physically and positionally developing runners, so Martin’s raw physical skills are the perfect addition to the group. Elite physical skill is the bedrock of an elite running back. 

On the flip side, Smith comes to Penn State with a great set of running back skills but doesn’t have the positional flexibility of Martin. He’s a natural runner with great vision, cutting ability, and speed. While he won’t end up the same size as Martin, Nick Singleton, or Kaytron Allen, his frame is more than big enough for the Big Ten. Pairing Smith’s traditional skills with Martin’s varied abilities makes this duo stand out.  

Luke Reynolds proves he’s a rare breed this offseason

Penn State recruiting fans are well aware of Luke Reynolds’ meteoric rise this offseason. The former quarterback transitioned to tight end full-time this year and exploded on the camp scene, dominating the Elite 11 Finals in California. With his blend of size, explosive leaping ability, and speed, he’s the complete package at tight end.

Ethan Grunkemeyer looks like the real deal

The quarterback position is built on accuracy and decision-making. Without those quarterback skills, players can’t utilize other skills like size and arm strength to their fullest capabilities. 

While we’re still learning more about Ethan Grunkemeyer as a decision-maker, the foundational skills behind his accuracy are elite. His ability to properly execute the positional fundamentals in the pocket and on the run is rare. When you combine that with his impressive arm strength, Grunkemeyer’s potential explodes. When you add his improvisational skills, it’s hard not to get carried away with what he could do in the Penn State offense. If he’s as good as we think he is, Grunkemeyer is too low on this list. 

Cornerback fits the bill for Penn State’s defense 

Penn State needs a continuous infusion of man coverage corners to keep Manny Diaz’s defense functioning. That’s why pairing Mandarin High School cornerbacks Jon Mitchell and Antoine Belgrave-Shorter is so critical. Both players show impressive single coverage skills in their high school defense, which puts similar pressure on them to lock down their receivers. The duo isn’t perfect, with Mitchell lacking top-tier size or speed and Belgrave-Shorter showing safety-like tendencies. But their overall potential at cornerback is what Penn State needs to keep up its impressive run of defensive production. 

Aside from the outside corners, Kenny Woseley fits well in this group as a potential slot cover player. His instincts and vision, plus great change of direction skills, fit well in the slot. He’s not the biggest player in the secondary, but at 5-11, he can play outside cornerback.