Class Breakdown: Penn State's 2023 class adds big-time tight end in Andrew Rappleyea
It’s flipping season at Penn State.
The Nittany Lions received a commitment from four-star tight end Andrew Rappleyea, who flipped his commitment from Big Ten rivals Michigan.
With the news, Penn State’s class moved up two spots to fifth in the Class of 2023 consensus rankings.
Let’s take a look at the class as a whole so far.
The Nittany Lions landed a big-time tight end prospect on Sunday when they received a verbal commitment from Andrew Rappleyea.
Rappleyea flipped his commitment from Michigan, having given the Wolverines’ staff his verbal pledge on January 16.
This time, he says his commitment will stick.
“I am completely and fully committed to Penn State,” he wrote on Twitter. “My recruitment is closed.”
Rappleyea is listed at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds and is a four-star prospect according to both On3 and the On3 Consensus. He is the No. 16 tight end in the class per the Consensus, and the No. 4 prospect in the state of Massachusetts.
A native of Millbrook, New York, Rappleyea plays his high school football at Milton Academy in New England.
Already the top talent in Pennsylvania at the time of his verbal commitment on February 5, Jven Williams’ stock has only risen since.
Williams earned his fifth star from On3 shortly thereafter, becoming the top overall interior offensive lineman in this cycle and the No. 11 overall prospect according to On3 experts.
Williams chose Penn State over the likes of Michigan, Oklahoma and USC.
The Wyomissing product and Reading native became the fourth commit listed by On3 as an offensive lineman in Penn State’s eight-man class.
According to On3’s Consensus tool, Williams is the No. 64 overall prospect in the class, and the No. 4 interior offensive lineman. On3 lists him at 6-foot-4, 290 pounds.
Alex Birchmeier became Penn State’s first commit in the Class of 2023 when he gave the Nittany Lions his pledge back in July. He told BWI at the time that he committed so early because he wanted to help Penn State put together its class.
“I want to take on that role and I think I can help make this class even better than their 2022 class now,” he said then.
Listed by On3 as an interior offensive lineman, Birchmeier stands at 6-foot-5.5, 275 pounds, and plays his high school football at Broad Run in Ashburn, Virginia.
He is ranked 31st overall according to the On3 Consensus. He chose the Nittany Lions over the likes over Notre Dame, Georgia, Michigan and Florida State.
Penn State stayed inside the Keystone State for its second commit of the 2023 cycle, landing cornerback Lamont Payne.
Payne gave James Franklin his verbal commitment on the field before Penn State’s White Out game against Auburn.
Payne touted a very strong relationship with Nittany Lion cornerbacks coach Terry Smith in making his choice.
“That’s my guy,” Payne said. “He’s just shown from the beginning that he really cares. He’s calling me every week to build that bond and check up with me. We talk about football, but we also talk about sports, family, and just life. I remember talking to him about history and things like that. He’s just really cool.”
Payne, rated as the No. 468 overall prospect by the On3 Consensus, plays his high school football at Chartiers Valley and chose the Nittany Lions over the likes of Pitt, West Virginia and others.
Mathias Barnwell was originally Penn State’s first commit in the 2023 cycle, before deciding to open things up again.
He rejoined the fold in late August, giving the Nittany Lions a standout athlete to work with. Barnwell stands at 6-foot-5.5, 255 pounds, and plays for Riverbend in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
“Opening up my recruitment really did help me,” Barnwell told BWI. “I committed at a young age. I’ve got to see way different coaching styles.”
Barnwell, a four-star prospect, is the No. 318 overall recruit in the cycle, and the No. 12 athlete according to the Consensus.
He chose Penn State from an offers list that also included Ohio State, Notre Dame, USC and Ole Miss.
Joey Schlaffer gives the Nittany Lions an exciting tight end prospect in this class.
The four-star recruit per On3 out of Reading, Pennsylvania, stands at 6-foot-5.5, 205 pounds, and plays for Exeter Township. He is the younger brother of former Nittany Lion offensive lineman Michal Menet.
Schlaffer picked up a Penn State offer in early September, and gave the Nittany Lions a verbal commitment in October.
“As soon as they offered me, I felt like there was no other choice,” he said. “I kind of felt that my path was set before it even started, if that makes sense. Between my brother’s history there and how much I’ve followed them over the years, this is where I’m supposed to be.”
Schlaffer is the No. 446 overall prospect in the On3 Consensus and the No. 10 player in the state.
He chose the Nittany Lions over Tennessee, Maryland, Nebraska and others.
Joshua Miller was Penn State’s fifth addition to the class, giving the Nittany Lions his verbal pledge in December.
Miller is the third member of the class from the state of Virginia. The On3 Consensus rates him as the No. 11 player in the state, and the No. 513 overall prospect in the nation.
Listed as an interior lineman, Miller is 6-foot-4, 320 pounds.
“When I really looked at Penn State and compared them to my top schools, I just realized that Penn State had everything I needed,” he said. “There was no more time to waste. It was the right time.”
He chose Penn State over Clemson, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.
Anthony Donkoh gave the Nittany Lions his verbal commitment on January 28.
Yet another Virginia prospect — Penn State’s fourth this cycle — Donkoh plays his high school football at Lightridge.
He is rated as a three-star prospect by the On3 Consensus, the No. 42 offensive tackle, and the no. 620 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle.
“The campus is beautiful. I’ve never seen a big campus like that before. That really blew me away,” Donkoh said. “Also, seeing the stadium up close, that blew me away, too. I never expected to be standing inside one of the biggest stadiums in the United States and really the entire world. That’s just crazy. But the visit overall was a really good time. I learned a lot about the school and felt comfortable with everyone at Penn State.”
Donkoh chose the Nittany Lions over Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Duke and Liberty.
