Priority Penn State target Peter Gonzalez decides today; will he pick the Lions?
Penn State football hopes to land its second Class of 2024 receiver in three days when Peter Gonzalez announces his college choice tonight. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound prospect has a top three and is ready to tell the world at 7 p.m. ET where he will play once his prep days are done at Pittsburgh Central Catholic.
Will the Lions land him? We preview the announcement below.
Tracking Peter Gonzalez’s recruitment
Penn State offered Gonzalez in February of 2022. By then, the ‘Steel City’ native had reported a couple of other Power Five offers, but many more would come before his junior year ended. All told, the receiver had a chance to play at nearly 20 different schools. But, he shaved his list to just three of them before deciding. We’ll cover that group in a second, but first, here’s his visit rundown as a recruit:
10 – Penn State (including an official visit)
4 – Virginia Tech (including an official visit)
2 – Pittsburgh, Wisconsin
1 – West Virginia, Cincinnati, Miami
Who are the contenders?
Gonzalez released a top three at the end of May. Penn State was in it, along with the Hokies and Hurricanes. However, he only took official visits to see the Lions and Virginia Tech. So, those are the receivers’ actual two finalists, from our point of view.
Who leads on the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine?
Powered by an On3 RPM pick from BWI recruiting insider Ryan Snyder, Penn State has a massive lead in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine percentage leaderboard heading into decision day.
What has he said about Penn State?
Speaking to BWI following a camp earlier this summer, Gonzalez talked to BWI about how his speed improved this offseason to the delight of Penn State coaches.
“There’s definitely been a big uptick in interest from Penn State since the UC Report Camp,” Gonzalez said. “I actually found out about my time through them. One of their coaches text me saying, ‘I see you running that 4.49.’ I didn’t even realize I ran that time. I had to go look it up and that’s when I saw the graphic on Twitter. But there’s definitely been more and more conversations since then. They said I answered the biggest question for them.”
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How can you follow Gonzalez’s announcement?
This section will be updated if and when more information becomes available. Gonzalez’s Twitter page is here. The latest can be found inside of The Lions Den forum, as well.
Also of note: Four-star New York receiver Josiah Brown announces tonight at 7 p.m. ET., as well.
Where does Penn State stand to start the day?
With 18 Class of 2024 verbal commitments at the start of Friday, Penn State holds the No. 11 spot in the On3 Industry Ranking Football Team Recruiting Rankings.
Here is the Lions’ current commitment timeline rundown:
June 20, 2023 — Philadelphia four-star receiver Tyseer Denmark.
June 11, 2023 — Irvington, N.J., four-star safety Vaboue Toure.
Jun. 4, 2023 — Baltimore, Md., four-star safety Dejuan Lane.
June 4, 2023 — Columbia, Md., three-star defensive lineman Xavier Gillman
June 4, 2023 — Jacksonville, Fla., 3-star defensive tackle Deryc Plazz. But, he decommitted on June 15.
May 20, 2023 — Lewis Center, Ohio 3-star quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer.
April 28, 2023 — Waukesha, Wisc., 4-star running back Corey Smith.
Apr. 25, 2023 — Cornelius, N.C., 3-star tackle Eagan Boyer.
Apr. 24, 2023 — Hartland, Wisc., 3-star tackle Garrett Sexton.
April 18, 2023 — Waukesha, Wisc., 4-star offensive lineman Donovan Harbour.
April 15, 2023 — Reading, Pa., 3-star athlete Caleb Brewer.
Apr. 10, 2023 — Jacksonville, Fla., 3-star cornerback Antoine Belgrave-Shorter.
April 7, 2023 – Pittsburgh, Pa., 4-star running back Quinton Martin.
April 1, 2023 – Jacksonville, Fla., 3-star cornerback Jon Mitchell.
March 25, 2023 – Westford, Mass., 3-star tight end Luke Reynolds
March 3, 2023 – Philadelphia, Pa., 3-star cornerback Kenny Woseley Jr.
Feb. 28, 2023 — Bloomfield Hills, Mich., 3-star linebacker Kari Jackson
Jan. 17, 2023 — Pittsburgh, Pa., 4-star linebacker Anthony Speca
Jan. 29, 2022 — Erie, Pa., 4-star interior offensive lineman Cooper Cousins
