Penn State watches another Pennsylvania high school star commit elsewhere

It became apparent when four-star wide receiver Lex Cyrus of Susquehanna Township jumped to South Carolina from Penn State Thursday. 
 
While James Franklin was hired coach 10 years ago he said that he wanted to “dominate the state. ” Something Penn State has not done in this cycle. 
 
Besides, a 5-10, 170 pound Cyrus joined other top 10 Pennsylvania high school players who did not consider the Lions by signing for out of state’s colleges. Among the 22 commitments only six have been made by the locals of the state. 
 
“There’s been a strategy some in-state classes the last decade have utilized and it hasn’t gone Penn State’s way,” said Ryan Snyder, recruiting analyst for Blue-White Illustrated and On3. I do think that NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) is playing a role in that. Well, it is just the way things are I suppose. 
 
“As for going after star players, Penn State doesn’t really reel in that many of the top 100 ranked players (nationally) but there are plenty of players that range from 150 to 300. ” 
 
Though, the Lions could not sign some of the best talents that the state of Ohio has to offer, their 2025 recruiting class ranks ninth according to the 247Sports composite and 17th according the On3. 
 
Two people in warm clothes embrace. 
Their commitments come from across the country: out of which three are from New Jersey, Two each are from California, Maryland Florida; One each from Texas, Kansas, Colorado, Arkansas Virginia New York and Connecticut. Snyder added that is because, Penn State has expanded the staff that focused on recruitment. 
 
‘They have tried that really well,’ he said, ‘and of being more proactive when it comes to introducing themselves to coaches at dominant programs such as California. ’ This, he said, is something that the Zags have done ‘consistently for the last two years. ’ 
 
According to On3, the Lions’ best-ranked recruit is the four-star corner back Daryus Dixon from Santa Ana, California The Lions also secured a commitment from the three-star linebacker LaVar Arrington II from Covina, California , the son of LaVar Arrington, the College Football Hall of Fame. Max Granerville of Sugar Land, Texas is ranked as the No. 3 overall recruit by the College and is a four star linebacker. 
 
They’re also in the running for four-star wide receiver Taz Williams Jr of Red Oak, Texas, who has yet to make his decision and intends to this Saturday. The positions that Williams consider for are Penn State, Michigan, SMU and TEXAS A&M. Last fall he hauled in 80 passes for 1251 yards and 14 touchdowns. 
 
If they were to secure Williams, he would bring four-star prospect Jeff Exinor of Baltimore and three-stars Lyrick Samuel of Brooklyn, New, York as well as, join the 2025 class. Getting him therefore became even more important as Cyrus committed to South Carolina. 
 
On3 has Cyrus down as the 218th-best player, and the wideout hauled in 67 catches in his time at Susquehanna Township last year. He was the PIAA Class 3A 100-meter dash champion last year and did the event in 10 seconds. The following table shows that this competitor is 67 and ranked 3rd this year at 10. 53. 
 
“He’s one of the better blue chip receivers when it comes to speed in the 2025 cycle,” On3 scouting director, Charles Power. “For one, he is fast-legged, and the dude also boasts plus length. Contrary to his height and muscle mass, he is a bit thin, but his long arms smoothen things a little. 
 
“AC, speed, movement skills, and burst to get the long runs after the catch, he is dynamic player with a lot of potentiality in him. ” 
 
The three ranked first, second, and third-best high school seniors in the state per On3, have elsewhere pledged. Spring-Ford’s QB, Matt Zollers took Missouri, Central Bucks East’s Michael Carroll, the cortical lineman, selected Alabama, and Southern Lehigh’s Andrew Olesh, the tight end selected for Michigan. 
 
Penn State had gone 3-for-3 with the best players in the state in the last three cycles successfully by securing Erie McDowell’s Cooper Cousins an offensive lineman, Wyomissing’s J’ven Williams an offensive lineman, and Gov. Mifflin’s Nick Singleton a running back. 
 
“They weren’t able to sign the elite of this class,” Snyder said. “It must be noted that although there is still a specific target market of users for a smartphone, guys are getting paid now, and it is getting more competitive. ”