Where did Penn State's top prospects end up in updated On300?

Penn State is involved with nearly 50 prospects in the updated On300 for the Class of 2023.

As we announced last week, the most notable change for Penn State was the rise of offensive lineman Jven Williams. Already a top 50 prospect, the Wyomissing, Pa., native climbed 30 spots in the most recent update, now sitting at No. 11 overall, making him a five-star player.

He’s one of three Penn State commits who made the updated list. Offensive lineman Alex Birchmeier, from Ashburn, Va., also moved up a few spots. Previously ranked No. 38, he climbed five spots to No. 33. Birchmeier is currently right on the bubble of eventually becoming a five-star player. The Class of 2022 featured 32 five-star prospects.

Future Penn State tight end Neeo Avery is also part of the On300, sitting at No. 178 overall. He moved down 37 spots after previously being ranked No. 141. There were over 30 prospects who were previously ranked below Avery and have now surpassed him. His move is more so related to that than On300 electing to move him down.

Link: Jven Williams climbs to No. 11 in On300 rankings

With more than nine months to go until the early signing period, there are plenty of uncommitted prospects that Penn State remains involved with. In the top 100, Penn State finds itself in a good position with WR Noah Rogers (No. 23), OL Samson Okunlola (No. 59), DL Derrick LeBlanc (No. 71), DE Desmond Umeozulu (No. 83), DL Jason Moore (No. 89) and Ath. Cam Seldon (No. 90). Okunlola, LeBlanc, Umeozulu and Moore all visited Penn State in January.

101 to 200 is also loaded with top-ranked players that Penn State fans are following closely. OL Evan Link made a big move in this update, jumping 75 spots to No. 114 overall. The Fort Washington, Md., native, along with Okunlola, are arguably Penn State’s most important remaining prospects along the offensive line.

New Jersey native Jayden Bonsu also made a massive jump, going from outside the On300 all the way to No. 124. Penn State and Michigan State both hosted Bonsu for visits in January, while Oklahoma plans to get him on campus this upcoming weekend.

Link: Scouting portal LB Josh Chandler-Semedo for Penn State fit

Other notable players in that range include DT John Walker (No. 125), LB Ta’Mere Robinson (No. 154), LB Tony Rojas (No. 158), WR Rodney Gallagher (No. 160), DE Joseph Mupoyi (No. 166) and WR Bryson Rodgers (No. 172). I’ve already logged Penn State picks in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine for Robinson, Rojas and Gallagher. It should be noted that Mupoyi also made a major jump, up 64 spots from No. 230. He’s expected to return to Penn State this spring.

201 to 300 also features some notable players, including two Penn State prospects who were previously unranked in DL Dashawn Womack (No.203) and QB JJ Kohl (No. 213). Womack, who plays at St. Frances in Baltimore, just visited at the end of January and is steadily speaking with members of the staff. Kohl confirmed to Blue White Illustrated last week that he plans to visit Penn State as soon as possible. A native of Ankeny, Iowa, Kowl is considered an Iowa State lean, but the Nittany Lions should have a say in this recruitment before it’s all said and done.

Other notable players include DL Will Norman (No. 228), DL Jameial Lyons (No. 240), DE David Ojiegbe (No. 263), DT Devan Houstan (No. 265), RB London Montgomery (No. 267) and DE Dylan Gooden (No. 288). Lyons, Houstan and Montgomery were all previously outside of the On300. Montgomery, from Scranton, Pa., doesn’t hold an offer from Penn State currently but has visited on a few occasions and continues to be evaluated.

Penn State fans can check out the complete list of prospects below.

PSU prospects in updated 2023 On300

6) Ath. Nyckoles Harbor (No change)

11) OL Jven Williams (Up 30 spots from No. 41) ***

23) WR Noah Rogers (Up 14 spots from No. 37)

31) OL Kadyn Proctor (Up 3 spots from No. 34)

33) OL Alex Birchmeier (Up 5 spots from No. 38) ***

40) DB Joenel Aguero (Down 16 spots from No. 24)

49) QB Dante Moore (Down 31 spots from No. 18)

52) WR Aidan Mizell (Up 248 spots from No. 300)

59) OL Samson Okunlola (Up 20 spots from No. 79)

63) LB Troy Bowles (Down 27 spots from No. 36)

64) DE Tomarrion Parker (Up 24 spots from No. 88)

65) RB Richard Young (Down 9 spots from No. 56)

71) DL Derrick LeBlanc (Up 15 spots from No. 86)

83) DE Desmonnd Umeozulu (Up 30 spots from No. 113)

89) DT Jason Moore (Down 26 spots from No. 63)

90) Ath. Cam Seldon (Down 29 spots from No. 61)

95) Ath. Mikal Harrison-Pilot (Up 13 spots from No. 108)

99) OL Sullivan Absher (Up 68 spots from No. 167)

Link: Get to know Penn State football’s 2022 offensive walk-ons

103) Ath. Samuel M’Pemba (Down 94 spots from No. 11)

104) OL Chase Bisontis (Down 39 spots from No. 65)

114) OL Evan Link (Up 75 spots from No. 189)

124) Saf. Jayden Bonsu (Previously unranked)

125) DL John Walker (Previously unranked)

154) LB Ta’Mere Robinson (Down 51 spots from No. 103)

158) LB Tony Rojas (Up 34 spots from No. 192)

160) WR Rodney Gallagher (Up 20 spots from No. 184)

166) DE Joseph Mupoyi (Up 64 spots from No. 230)

172) WR Bryson Rodgers (Down 2 spots from No. 170)

178) TE Neeo Avery (Down 37 spots from No. 141) ***

179) DB Damari Brown (Previously unranked) 

183) RB Daylan Smothers (Up 17 spots from No. 200)

199) Saf. Jaremiah Anglin (Previously unranked)

Link: Get to know Penn State football’s 2022 defensive walk-ons

203) DL Dashawn Womack (Previously unranked)

213) QB JJ Kohl (Previously unranked)

215) Saf. Daemon Fagan (Down 62 spots from No. 153)

218) OL Olaus Alinen (Previously unranked)

228) DL Will Norman (Down 31 spots from No. 197)

240) DL Jameial Lyons (Previously unranked)

261) RB Marquese Williams (Down 75 spots from No. 186)

263) DE David Ojiegbe (Down 108 spots from No. 155)

265) DT Devan Houstan (Previously unranked)

267) RB London Montgomery (Previously unranked)

283) OL Amir Herring (Down 37 spots from No. 246)

288) DE Dylan Gooden (Down 151 spots from No. 137)

295) CB Antonio Robinson (Down 78 spots from No. 217)

297) DL Joel Starlings (Down 69 spots from No. 228)