White Out weekend once again gave Penn State the kind of stage it uses to sell the program’s future, and the Nittany Lions filled it with a massive crowd of visitors from across the country. More than 100 recruits were in Happy Valley, including a major chunk of the 2027 class, a deep group of 2028 targets and a few new names getting scholarship offers along the way.
The biggest current group was the 2027 class. Eighteen of Penn State’s 22 committed players in that cycle were on hand for Saturday’s biggest home game of the year, giving the staff a strong look at the class it has already built.
That group now sits at No. 20 nationally in the 247Sports composite and No. 8 in the Big Ten, with seven 4-star recruits among its members. Six of those four-stars made the trip to Beaver Stadium.
One of the four committed players who did not attend was 3-star running back Chukwuma Odoh, who made his own noise elsewhere. He went up against Bergen Catholic, the top-ranked team in New Jersey, and scored three rushing touchdowns in the second half to help Paramus Catholic pull off a 31-17 upset.
Penn State’s work in 2028 was just as prominent. The class is still small, with only three commitments, but it already checks in at No. 9 nationally and includes two 4-star pledges: quarterback James Armstrong and cornerback Deonte Flemings Jr. Both were in Happy Valley over the weekend.
The visit list around them was loaded with names Penn State wants badly. Four-star wide receiver Jaden Jones, 4-star athlete Brandon Murphy and 4-star offensive lineman Nick Anderson all came in from the Pittsburgh area.
Anderson is a legacy recruit, with his father, Bill Anderson, having played for Penn State from 1992-95. Nick Anderson is currently the No. 8 player in Pennsylvania in the 2028 class.
Jones and Murphy remain two of the state’s biggest priorities. Jones is ranked No. 7 in Pennsylvania and No. 26 at his position, while Murphy is the No. 4 player in the state. Both have visited Penn State more than any other school so far.
Another important in-state name on campus was offensive lineman Ty Winn, who returned for the White Out. At 6-foot-8, he fits the kind of tackle frame Penn State offensive line coach Ryan Clanton tends to chase. Winn is the No. 6 player in Pennsylvania, and he already has other top-school visits lined up for every weekend through the end of the regular season.
The Nittany Lions also continued to make themselves a factor in the New Jersey and New York areas. Director of Recruiting Naz Oliver brings added reach there after coaching at Malcolm X Shabazz High School in New Jersey before joining Penn State on Feb. 25, 2025.
Among the top out-of-state targets, 4-star edge rusher Cam Toomey stands out as the No. 1 player in New York and one of Penn State’s most sought-after recruits. He has also taken visits to Ole Miss and Virginia Tech this season.
Penn State also hosted 4-star wide receiver Mekhi Parker, a top-100 prospect in the 2028 class and the No. 3 player in New Jersey. At 6-foot-4, Parker would be the second-tallest receiver on Penn State’s 2026 roster. His offer list already includes Georgia, Ohio State, Texas and Alabama.
The weekend also brought a fresh wave of offers across the 2028, 2029 and 2030 classes. Four-star cornerback Zayden Williams picked up an offer while visiting. The Tennessee native is the No. 33 cornerback in 2028 and already holds offers from Georgia, Auburn and Florida State, among others.
Penn State also extended an offer to 4-star receiver Carson LaCombe from San Antonio, Texas. LaCombe is the No. 21 wide receiver in the 2028 class, recently visited LSU on Sept. 1 and also has offers from Oklahoma, Ohio State and Texas Tech.
Another offer went to 2028 3-star tight end AJ Henley of Harper Woods, Michigan. The 6-foot-3 Henley already has offers from Michigan, Louisville, Indiana and Iowa State. He was there with fellow Michigan native Jayden Evans, a 3-star safety and the No. 9 player in Michigan.
Penn State didn’t leave White Out weekend with a win, but it did show off exactly why the event matters so much on the recruiting calendar. The Nittany Lions played in front of a record-setting 114,419 fans at Beaver Stadium, and the atmosphere gave recruits a clear look at one of the sport’s biggest stages.
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