A Penn State freshman receiver is facing DUI charges, according to court records, after an incident that took place July 11.
Ben Whitver, 19, has been charged with two DUI counts and a charge of driving the wrong way. One of the DUI charges says Whitver had a Schedule I drug in his blood, while the other says a drug metabolite was present.
Whitver’s record is otherwise clean except for a minor traffic offense in Centre County this past April, which he pleaded guilty to.
The wideout committed to Penn State on Dec. 27, shortly after Penn State beat Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl. Before that, he had been signed to James Madison, but JMU released him from his letter of intent after coach Bob Chesney left for UCLA.
Whitver arrives with a decorated high school résumé. He owns the Virginia state record for career receiving yards and ranks third in state history in receptions. As a senior, he finished with 58 catches for 961 yards and nine touchdowns.
After his Penn State commitment, Whitver spoke to Lions247 about the move.
“To be honest, I’ve always loved Penn State,” Whitver said. “It’s always been a dream school for me. It feels like home and I’m excited.”
He also explained what Matt Campbell and Penn State’s new coaching staff liked about his game.
”They’ve said they love my game and my skill set,” Whitver said. “They’ve known about me and have watched me for a while going back to when they were at Iowa State.”
Whitver is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 30 at 8:30 a.m.
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Penn State Just Got An Early Sign Its 2026 Ceiling Is Rising
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For Campbell and general manager Derek Hoodjer, the move also points to a wider approach that could matter as the roster is reshaped. Holding onto a premium offensive lineman without getting dragged into the transfer markets expensive bidding wars gives Penn State a cleaner path forward, especially up front where continuity can change everything. With Goodman set on the edge, the Nittany Lions at least know one major piece of the 2026 puzzle is already in position. [Read more 🡒]