Penn State’s loss Saturday took some of the shine off a recruiting weekend built around the unusual 5 p.m. kickoff, but not every visitor walked away disappointed.
Faraji Tucker, a 3-star tight end from Rabun Gap-Nacoochee High School in Georgia, still left with Penn State sitting near the top of his list. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound prospect, who was offered by the Nittany Lions in March, said PSU is already one of the schools standing out most in his recruitment.
“(Penn State is) probably one of the greatest on my list for me,” he told Nittany Sports Now, “like right now, and it’s definitely in my top three.”
Tucker doesn’t have a set top three yet, but he is especially interested in Alabama, Florida, LSU, Penn State and UCLA. His offer sheet is loaded, with schools including Arkansas, Baylor, Colorado, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, NC State, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Pitt, Purdue, SMU, Syracuse, Wake Forest and West Virginia also in the mix.
A former receiver, Tucker has transitioned to tight end and says that move has him paying close attention to programs that feature the position the way Penn State does. A major reason the Nittany Lions are so appealing is tight ends coach Taylor Mouser, who also serves as offensive coordinator and was named Football Scoop’s Tight End Coach of the Year last season in his final year at Iowa State.
Tucker said the relationship clicked quickly.
“So I met him during winter, like that winter and spring,” Tucker said. “That’s when he offered me.
So I’ve known him since then, and we’ve built a real good connection over the past month. So I could for sure see myself playing under him, winning games under him, everything.”
What stood out most to Tucker was Mouser’s straightforward approach.
“He just keeps it real,” Tucker said. “What they do in the offensive game. Everything we were talking about before the game, he told me what they were gonna do and stuff, and they actually did it.”
Penn State’s recent success at the position also stuck with him. Tucker said he remembered Tyler Warren’s dominant 2024 season and how it shaped his view of the Nittany Lions after the offer came through.
“I remember that season he had, because he was going crazy,” Tucker said. “It really made me like watching him and then realizing that (Penn State) offered me. You know, looking back on what he did at this, that really made me want to go there even more.”
As for what he brings to the table, Tucker sees himself as a complete tight end.
“Just being an all-around tight end,” he said, “like having that twitch to you, the route running, everything, the edge, blocking when you need to. Really, I feel like that fits into Penn State.”
Tucker isn’t ready to make a commitment yet, but he also doesn’t expect the process to drag deep into the summer.
In Other News...
Penn State Fans Just Got A New Beaver Stadium Comparison
Northwesterns new Ryan Field made its debut during Penn States visit, giving Nittany Lions fans a fresh point of comparison for what a modern college football venue can look like. The 35,000-seat on-campus stadium, built at a cost of $870 million, puts a premium on closeness to the action, with premium seating, a standing-only student section and a layout that brings the crowd right up to the playing surface.
Penn State broadcaster Steve Jones also took note of the new setup, including the location of the visiting radio booth, while the game added another layer to the conversation with the strong Peacock/NBC production. For Penn State observers, the contrast with Beaver Stadium was hard to miss, especially on a night when the sideline environment again underscored how crowded things can feel in Happy Valley. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Northwestern Prep Just Took A Surprising Turn
Penn States trip to Northwestern now comes with a little more clarity on the injury front for both sides. The Wildcats will be without tight end Luke Dehnicke and defensive back Braden Turner, while defensive back Damon Walters and receiver Hayden Eligon are listed as game-time decisions. There is confidence that Eligon will suit up, which gives Northwestern at least a chance to keep one more piece available as it tries to sort through a thin week of preparation.
For the Nittany Lions, the injury picture is familiar in a less welcome way. Defensive end Max Granville is out for the season, and receiver Koby Howard is sidelined for an extended stretch, leaving Penn State to keep adjusting its depth as the schedule rolls on. Even with Northwestern dealing with its own absences, this is the sort of matchup where availability can shape both game planning and in-game flexibility before either side ever settles into a rhythm. [Read more 🡒]
Former Penn State QB Is Watching One Big Test For This New Era
Drew Allar is keeping a close eye on Penn States next chapter, and he sounds encouraged by the direction the program is headed under new head coach Matt Campbell. The former quarterback said he respects Campbell even though he never played for him, a small but telling sign that the transition has already earned some buy-in from one of the most recognizable players of the previous era.
Allar also pointed to Virginia Techs strong start under James Franklin as another reminder of how quickly new coaching situations can take shape. From his vantage point, both programs have a chance to keep growing beyond his time in college football, and the real test now is whether Penn State can turn that optimism into sustained success in Campbells new era. [Read more 🡒]