Penn State is making its case early with one of the more sought-after young offensive tackles in the country, and the message is landing.
Class of 2028 four-star tackle Eytan D'oleo has already seen plenty of attention from Big Ten programs, with Penn State, Rutgers and Ohio State all bringing him in for unofficial visits and camps since March. The latest stop in Happy Valley came on June 20, after D'oleo was last there for a spring practice visit on April 16.
That return trip appears to have mattered. According to Tyler Calvaruso of Lions247, D'oleo said Penn State is "very high" on his list, pointing to the program’s culture and coaching staff as major reasons why.
Top247 Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy offensive tackle @EytanDoleo has Penn State "very high" on his list after returning to campus last weekend.
"Their culture, development and coaching staff really stand out."
VIP: https://t.co/seoWXjNJ8L pic.twitter.com/AQiKPGXmMz
- Tyler Calvaruso (@tyler_calvaruso) June 28, 2026
D'oleo is currently ranked No. 318 nationally and No. 32 among offensive tackles in his class. The Camden, N.J. native also checks in at No. 45 in his state, per Rivals Industry Ratings.
This one is far from decided. Rutgers, Penn State, Ohio State and Syracuse are the four teams most likely to land him right now, but the recruitment is still in its early stages. D'oleo has already collected 22 offers, with Auburn, Texas, North Carolina and Boston College also in the mix.
For Penn State, the pitch starts up front. The Nittany Lions have long leaned on offensive line development as a selling point, and Campbell’s 2027 class already includes interior linemen Owen Reilly and Jon Sassic along with tackles David Tarawallie and Ryan Robbins. Tarawallie is the headline name in that group, ranked No. 67 nationally and No. 7 at tackle.
That kind of roster construction matters in these battles. A strong line already in place, paired with more talent coming down the road, gives Penn State a clear message to sell. D'oleo’s praise for the culture fits right into that script, and it’s a recurring theme that has helped the program with prospects since Campbell arrived.
Penn State also hosted interior offensive lineman Carl Noisette on an unofficial visit. He wasn’t surprised by what he saw, but the same qualities that stood out to D'oleo also resonated with him. As a first-time visitor, Noisette left Happy Valley with the Nittany Lions as his No. 1 choice.
Penn State already has two committed 2028 prospects: four-star cornerback Deonte Flemings Jr. and kicker Carter Petri.
In Other News...
Penn State Recruiting Turbulence Just Took Another Unsettling Turn
Penn States 2027 recruiting picture has already taken on the kind of familiar summer volatility that can make long-range planning feel a little shaky, even when the class still has promising pieces. Quarterback Will Wood is in, cornerback Dhillon McGee chose the Nittany Lions over in-state competition, and Matt Campbells staff has tried to keep momentum moving with creative touches like a recent visit to Hershey that left an impression on the players.
The challenge, of course, is that recruiting rarely stays orderly for long, especially when blue-chip targets keep narrowing the field and the staff still has work to do at receiver. Penn State has also had to keep an eye on the transfer side of the equation, where former defensive end Chaz Colemans path away from the program added another uneasy note to a cycle that already feels in motion. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Playoff Hype May Hinge On One Huge Unknown
Penn States first season under Matt Campbell is drawing plenty of attention because the range of outcomes is so wide. ESPNs Bill Connelly sees a roster that could play like a borderline top-15 team, but he also leaves room for a finish well outside the top 40, and the reasons for that swing are easy to spot. The schedule sets up reasonably well, the transfer portal brought in a wave of help, and several position groups look strong enough to keep the Nittany Lions in the conversation for most of the year.
The larger question is whether the pieces on paper add up when the games get harder. Penn State avoids Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon in the regular season, and the early nonconference slate should not tell us much either, so the trip to Michigan on Oct. 17 may end up carrying outsized weight. Even with the upgrades, there is still some unease about the defensive line, where the Lions have not yet found a true No. 1 edge presence and need someone to seize that role before the seasons biggest tests arrive. [Read more 🡒]