Penn State added a major piece to its future quarterback picture on Thursday when Hopewell’s James “Bobo” Armstrong announced his commitment to the Nittany Lions.
Hayes Fawcett of Rivals.com first reported the decision early Thursday afternoon, and the news carries real weight. Armstrong is the top Class of 2028 prospect in Western Pennsylvania, a four-star recruit in 247Sports’ composite rankings, and the No. 169 player in the country in his class according to 247Sports. He’s also rated the No. 10 quarterback nationally and the No. 4 player in Pennsylvania.
The offers told the rest of the story. Armstrong had drawn interest from a long list of major programs, including Arkansas, Auburn, Cincinnati, Colorado, Duke, Florida State, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan State, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Pitt, Syracuse, UCLA, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
His production last season matched the hype. Armstrong finished with 2,232 passing yards, 21 touchdowns and only three interceptions.
He wasn’t just hurting defenses through the air, either. On 139 carries, he piled up 799 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns.
Armstrong’s profile has already stretched beyond the high school and recruiting circuits. He was featured in NFL Network’s “The Football Town” documentary, where narrator Pat McAfee asked rhetorically if he could be the next great Western PA QB, following in the lineage of players such as Joe Montana, Joe Namath and Dan Marino.
Hopewell’s football roots run deep as well. The program’s most famous alum is legendary running back Tony Dorsett, for whom the school named its football stadium. The school also produced Paul Pozluszny, one of the great linebackers in Penn State history.
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