Penn State flips receiver Matthew Outten from Virginia Tech
Penn State football has raided the class of a familiar face to earn its latest victory on the recruiting trail. The Nittany Lions have flipped three-star receiver Matthew Outten away from Brent Pry and Virginia Tech. He announced his decision on Monday. The 6-foot, 210-pound Class of 2025 recruit was a Virginia Tech commit since July 1. However, Penn State, which hosted him for an official visit in June and two times for unofficial visits earlier this year, did not let his initial pledge deter it from continuing to recruit the Portsmouth, Va., native. And, in the end, that led to a victory to kick off September.
“I want to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity vou have given me to be apart of the virginia tech family,” Outten wrote on Instagram. “Understand that my decision may come as a disappointment, and I want to ensure vou that it was not made likely i know that this decision is necessary for me to per-sue my academic and athletic aspirations in a way that will allow me to reach my full potential. With that being said I am now fully and whole heartedly committed to Penn State!!! We Are!”
Outten is the No. 406 player in the On3 Industry Rankings. He is the No. 15 athlete in the senior class and No. 13 player in his home state.
Penn State now has commitments at receiver in the Class of 2025 from On3 Industry Rankings four-stars Jeff Exinor and Koby Howard in addition to three-stars Outten and Lyrick Samuels. The Nittany Lions now have 24 commitments in this cycle. They have a top 20 class nationally according to the On3 Industry Rankings.
What is Penn State getting in Matthew Outten?
BWI film analyst Thomas Frank Carr believes the Nittany Lions may be getting a steal by landing the Virginia native. His comments came prior to Monday’s flip.
“He may lack the nuance that he’ll need to learn at the next level. But if he is the athlete that I think he is, Penn State might just steal one if Outten commits to the program.
“When you add that speed information to his 6-1, 210-pound build, the possibilities begin to blossom in your mind. Outten is also a physically intimidating receiver who is happy to lower his shoulder through would-be tacklers and totally dominates his level of competition. However, the level of competition, his positional skills, and the lack of hard numbers surrounding his profile make him the most opaque prospect of this group. Still, of the remaining receivers, his ceiling might be the highest. Landing Outten could lead to the best outcome for the Class of 2025 if he makes good on his size, speed, and tackle-breaking potential.”
