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Penn State locks in junior day visit with Top 5 tight end prospect

Mug-Shot 4x4by:Ryan Snyder•01/18/24•

RyanSnyderOn3

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Penn State will host one of the nation's top tight end prospects this weekend. (Credit: On3)

Penn State has added another coveted four-star prospect to Saturday’s junior day. On Thursday morning, On3 recruiting analyst Zach Libby confirmed that Ohio native Luka Gilbert is set to travel to State College this weekend for the first time.

A 6-foot-7, 225-pound tight end from Lakota West in Cincinnati, Gilbert hasn’t yet earned a scholarship offer from Penn State tight ends coach Ty Howle, but we wouldn’t be surprised if that changes this upcoming weekend. Ranked No. 4 in the country at his position, Gilbert is also a Top 100 prospect nationally by On3, currently ranked at No. 64 overall. He’s also the second-ranked prospect in Ohio.

Since picking up his first offer from Kentucky in Jan. 2022, Gilbert has racked up 17 offers overall. Of those schools, he’s visited Iowa, Kentucky, Miami, Michigan and Ohio State. Cincinnati and Tennessee have also gotten him on campus previously. He’s expected to visit Miami next weekend, Jan. 27, while in town for Battle’s annual 7-on-7 tournament.

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Back in November, Libby travelled to Cincinnati to watch Gilbert in person.

“Gilbert is a legit 6-foot-7 and 225 pounds,” Libby wrote. “He towers over everyone else on the field and is a mismatch whenever he goes out for a pass. He finished with 1 catch for 25 yards, but would have had more if Lakota West’s quarterback had time to go through his progressions.

“Primarily positioned as an H-back or in-line, it was interesting that Gilbert didn’t line up more as a split-out Y or ran more routes. Mostly, he was asked to block. But it was good to see that Gilbert has the versatility to play multiple positions. A weight gain is the next step for Gilbert before enrolling in college, potentially adding 20 or 30 pounds.”

With the addition of Gilbert, Blue White Illustrated has now confirmed 45 prospects who are planning to visit Penn State this upcoming weekend. Of the players confirmed, more than half of them already hold a scholarship offer from the Nittany Lions.

Penn State fans can check out our updated list of expected recruiting visitors here.

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