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Penn State sets official visit with Georgia defensive tackle

Mug-Shot 4x4by:Ryan Snyder•05/12/22•

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Justin Benton (Credit: On3)

Penn State’s summer official visit list is already deep with talent. Currently, Blue White Illustrated is expecting 36 prospects to take an official visit next month. With Penn State allowed to use 62 official visits during the 2023 cycle (56 allotted each year, plus six carry over from the previous class) we don’t expect many more to come in June. Sure, there are certainly a few players they would gladly still add, but Penn State would prefer for that list not to go over 40 with still seven months to go in the cycle.

Now, we’re starting to see players confirm official visits for the upcoming season, one of whom confirmed Thursday in defensive tackle Justin Benton. Listed at 6-foot, 270 pounds, Benton took his first and only visit to Penn State last June. Now, he’s expected to return October 29-30 for the game against Ohio State.

“We talk almost every day. It’s been consistent communication between me and Penn State,” Benton said in an interview earlier this year. “I think I’ve built a great relationship with a lot of their coaches, too. Coach [John] Scott, Coach Deion Barnes, [Alan Zemaitis], Coach Kenny [Sanders]. I talk to Coach [James] Franklin and Hunter [Carson]. Also Coach [Ja’Juan] Seider, their running backs coach. I’m in touch with a lot of people there.”

Benton also told On3’s Jeremy Johnson, “Penn State has definitely made me feel like a priority the last few months. I fit a lot of the molds of a lot of good Penn State players. They have the perfect scheme for me and the type of player that I am. They’ve shown me a lot of love.”

One school that’s emerging as a serious contender with Benton is Miami. He took an unofficial visit to Coral Gables April 2 and spoke very highly of the experience. Tennessee has also been consistent throughout the first half of the year. He visited Knoxville in January.

In addition to Benton, California prospect Daylen Austin has also announced that he plans to take an official visit to Penn State that weekend. Austin hasn’t been to Penn State before, but he’s spoken highly of cornerback Terry Smith throughout his recruitment. USC is considered the favorite with the Long Beach Poly prospect. He visited with Lincoln Riley and his staff twice in April, and has been to USC five times total since last season.

The On3 Consensus ranks Austin among the best cornerbacks in the country. He’s ranked No. 154 nationally and is the 18th-ranked cornerback. Benton also holds a four-star rating, sitting at No. 394 overall.

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