Penn State’s Week 3 visit list had a little bit of everything: committed prospects back on campus, fresh 2028 targets in the building and one potential flip candidate who already has a verbal pledge elsewhere.
The Nittany Lions also got a front-row seat to why their quarterback haul is drawing attention. Both of Penn State’s committed signal-callers delivered big performances Friday night, with 3-star Will Wood and 4-star James Armstrong each putting up eye-catching numbers for their high school teams.
Wood, who is headed to Penn State next year, kept Xaverian Brothers rolling in a 53-6 win over Everett High School. The future Nittany Lion threw five touchdowns in the rout as his team stayed unbeaten. Wood is trying to guide Xaverian Brothers to a fourth straight state title and his third as a starter.
Armstrong was just as productive for Hopewell. The 4-star quarterback scored four times in a 34-6 win over Central Valley, showing off both sides of his game. One of his scores came on a 39-yard rushing touchdown, and later he dropped a perfect fade ball to his top receiver for a 12-yard touchdown.
On the visitor side, Penn State welcomed back several committed players for the game against Buffalo. Defensive end Elijah Guertin and safety Jonathan Galette were both in Beaver Stadium, along with 2028 cornerback commit Deonte Flemings Jr., who made the trip from Erie.
Guertin remains one of Penn State’s key 2027 pledges. He is ranked as the No. 302 player in the country and the top player in Rhode Island. Galette, meanwhile, is part of the program’s growing New Jersey pipeline and is ranked as the No. 21 player in the state.
Flemings continues to draw national attention as one of the premier cornerbacks in the junior class. The 4-star defensive back plans to visit Ole Miss, Tennessee, Nebraska, Notre Dame and Texas A&M, and he is also set to return to Penn State for the White Out against USC on Oct. 10.
Penn State also had a pair of notable 2028 targets on hand. Four-star edge rusher Michel Adams made his second visit to campus this calendar year after previously coming to see the Nittany Lions on Jan.
- Adams, the No. 2 player in Delaware, is expected to be one of Penn State’s main battles, with Syracuse also among the top contenders.
Defensive lineman Brynnen Thompson was in town too. The junior already has offers from Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas Tech and Oklahoma.
The Nittany Lions also added to their running back board. 2028 back Ca’Si Thomas picked up an offer during the visit, and so did Tevin Owen-Crastenberg, who currently leads the entire WPIAL in rushing yards. That pushed Penn State’s running back offer list to 15 as Savon Huggins and company continue to target options.
Penn State also had a flip candidate on campus in 2027 tight end Aidan Jacobs. Jacobs is verbally committed to Kent State, though he is unranked in the 247Sports composite.
He would be the third tight end in Penn State’s class, and the fact that he was in Happy Valley for Week 3 suggests the Nittany Lions are firmly in the mix. The Michigan native has only one FBS offer, from Kent State.
In Other News...
Penn State Staffer Faces Serious Off-Field Legal Trouble
A Penn State assistant coach is now dealing with an off-field situation that is drawing attention in State College and around the program. Jordan Lucas, the Nittany Lions assistant cornerbacks coach, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of DUI and three summary traffic violations after police found him asleep in a vehicle downtown with a blood alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit.
The stop came after officers found the vehicle illegally positioned in a crosswalk, with Lucas also listed as having a suspended drivers license and an expired vehicle registration. Penn State acknowledged the charges and said Lucas remains with the program while the legal matter moves forward, leaving the university to manage both the public fallout and the uncertainty around what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Offensive Line Just Got Thinner At The Worst Time
Penn States offensive line depth took another hit at an unwelcome time, with Will Tompkins ruled out for the season because of injury, according to coach Matt Campbell. Tompkins had played 31 snaps across the first three games after transferring in from Iowa State, giving the Nittany Lions another experienced body in a position group that can never have enough of them.
The setback leaves Penn State without a player it had hoped could help stabilize things as the year unfolded, and it also delays any chance to see how he might have fit into the rotation over a full season. There is still some long-term silver lining: Tompkins is expected to keep four years of eligibility after this season, so his Penn State story is far from over even if this one now pauses before it really got going. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States RB Battle Just Got Tougher To Ignore Entering Big Ten Play
Penn State spent the nonconference slate getting a closer look at four running backs, and the rotation did not make the answer any simpler. Carson Hansen, James Peoples, Quinton Martin Jr. and Cam Wallace all got chances to show what they can do, but the way those carries were distributed also made it clear this job is still open as Big Ten play arrives.
Martin stood out most against Buffalo, where his versatility in the passing game added another layer to his case, while Peoples continued to show growth and a knack for finding the end zone. Those two now look like the clearest candidates to head the depth chart, even if the staff has not committed to one lead option yet, and the coming conference games should tell whether Penn State leans toward the more dynamic all-purpose threat or the back who has been quickest to turn touches into points. [Read more 🡒]