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Watch: Penn State adds long-time target at linebacker in the Class of 2025

Headshot 5x7 reduced qualityby:Thomas Frank Carr08/08/24

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Cam Smith penn State Football On3
Penn State linebacker Cam Smith flipped his commitment from Duke to Penn State on Thursday Aug. 8. (Photo: Cam Smith Family)

The Penn State Nittany Lions recruiting efforts in 2025 have hit the drama season. The team flipped a long-time prospect to join the team’s defensive class on Tuesday and Blue White Illustrated has all the details. Recruiting insider Sean Fitz joins the BWI YouTube Channel to discuss St. Joe’s prep linebacker Cam Smith. Watch the full video to learn about Smith’s journey to the Class.

You can watch the video embedded in this article or check it out on the Blue White Illustrated YouTube Channel. There’s never been a better time to join us on the site or our second home on YouTube.

Penn State stays on Cam Smith as the situation evolves

Smith was a long-time target for the program but made a surprise decision to commit to Duke on Feb. 8. The connection between former Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz and Smith isn’t hard dot to connect. However, Fitz goes a step further and discusses a key assistant that Diaz took with him to Duke, who he thinks played a part in this story.

Fitz also details the situation around Smith’s decision to commit to Duke when he did and how the Class of 2025 evolved from then until now. One relevant note was New Jersey linebacker DJ McClary’s decision to flip to Rutgers this summer, opening up a spot.

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Discussing Smith’s fit in Class of 2025

However, not all linebackers are built in the same way. The team has several defensive athletes at the position, including LaVar Arrington II. What type of linebacker is Smith, and can he play in the box for Penn State? We review Smith’s traits and what he brings to the class. We also discuss how he solves certain problems this defensive lineup faced because of that positional ambiguity.

Class of 2025 recap

Penn State won’t quit the steady trickle of talent into the Class since a recruiting surge in June. Yes, the team missed some key receiver prospects, but in the last three days, they’ve also added two more players to the class. Florida wide receiver Koby Howard committed to the program on Sunday, followed by Smith on Tuesday.

As a St. Joe’s Prep player in Philly, Smith also brings an in-state dynamic to the conversation with his commitment. Fitz reviews where he ranks within the state and his overall star ranking with On3 and the larger recruiting industry. Check out the video for more details.

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