Meet the 2024 recruiting class
Belle Vernon’s Quinton Martin, shown playing against Northwestner Lehigh in the PIAA Class 3A championship game, is considered a four-star recruit and consensus top-100 player nationally. He was ranked as the No. 1 in-state prospect by 247 Sports, Rivals and ESPN.
Penn State football coach James Franklin added 25 new players on Wednesday, the early signing day in college football.
Penn State’s 2024 class was ranked as high as No. 13 nationally by 247 Sports entering the early signing period. The Nittany Lions rank third in the Big Ten behind Ohio State and Michigan.
Meet the newest members of the Nittany Lions who all made it official Wednesday.
DB Kenny Woseley, Imhotep:
Woseley, a highly regarded defensive back from Philly, made it official. The 5-foot-10, 165-pounder verbally committed in March. Woseley is the third Philly native in the class, joining Imhotep teammate Tyseer Denmark and Monsignor Bonner’s Mylachi Williams. It was a good cycle in the City of Brotherly Love, where Franklin and his staff have increased their recruiting efforts in recent years.
WR Tyseer Denmark, Imhotep:
Denmark, a four-star wide receiver, was previously committed to Oregon. He backed off his commitment to the Ducks in June when a visit to Penn State swayed him to flip. Before transferring to Imhotep, Denmark was named first-team All-Philadelphia Catholic League as a junior after recording 53 receptions for 892 yards and 10 touchdowns for Roman Catholic. That explosive season produced offers from Georgia, Alabama, Texas, USC, Michigan and more.
DB Vaboue Toure, Irvington (N.J.):
Toure, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound prospect, was offered by Penn State back in March 2022 and verbally committed in June. Toure had two more official visits planned at the time to Oklahoma and Kentucky. Toure also had offers from Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon and USC. Interestingly, Toure is the only New Jersey product in the 2024 class.
LB Anthony Speca, Central Catholic:
Speca is a four-star recruit and is ranked as high as the No. 5 in-state prospect by 247 Sports. Speca picked Penn State over Michigan in January. It signaled the end of what was a long recruiting process for the MaxPreps freshman All-American. “At a point, you just kind of know where you want to go,” he told PennLive in July. “I’ve been everywhere. And it was nice for me to know that where I wanted to be was so close. Pennsylvania linebackers go to Penn State, you know? It’s Linebacker U. I had to.”
QB Ethan Grunkemeyer, Olentangy (Ohio):
Grunkemeyer, a consensus four-star recruit, is ranked as high as the No. 5 quarterback and the No. 84 overall prospect in the 2024 cycle by ESPN. Grunkemeyer has experienced a significant rise after committing to Penn State in May as a three-star recruit. He endured a recruiting process his high school head coach, Wade Bartholomew, called “a marathon, not a sprint.” He joins a quarterback room with Drew Allar, with whom he shares a personal quarterbacks coach, QB Excelerate’s Brad Maendler.
DE Jaylen Harvey, Quince Orchard (Md.):
Harvey, a four-star edge rusher, was sought-after by Penn State for a while now. Back in July, he was expected to commit to the Nittany Lions before rescheduling his announcement. USC was in on Harvey. So were Maryland and Florida. But the Nittany Lions won out when Harvey verbally committed in October.
DE Mylachi Williams, Monsignor Bonner:
Williams, a four-star defensive end, is the No. 2 in-state prospect, the No. 10 edge rusher and the No. 80 overall recruit in 2024 cycle, according to on3. Williams was a priority target for Penn State. His finalists included Penn State, Pitt, Notre Dame, Texas A&M and Syracuse. The Nittany Lions were on Williams’ radar longer than any big-time program; Penn State became the first Power Five school to offer back in January. He formed a strong bond with defensive line coach Deion Barnes, contributing to his decision to commit.
OT Eagan Boyer, William A. Hough (N.C.):
A potential tackle of the future is in. Boyer, a 6-foot-8, 250-pounder, is a three-star prospect. But he was a riser in the 2024 class. Penn State offered the North Carolina native back in January, joining Auburn, Tennessee, Kentucky and more on his offer sheet. In February, Clemson, Michigan and Wisconsin offered. Boyer verbally committed in April.
DB Antoine Belgrave-Shorter, Mandarin (Fla.):
Belgrave-Shorter, a three-star prospect, is in. The 6-foot, 185-pounder also had offers from Auburn, Miami, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Maryland, Kentucky and more. Belgrave-Shorter is high school teammates with four-star signee Jon Mitchell. They’re one of three sets of teammates in Penn State’s 2024 class, joining Imhotep’s Tyseer Denmark and Kenny Woseley as well as Corey Smith and Donovan Harbour from Waukesha (Wisc.).
DB Dejuan Lane, Gilman (Md.):
Lane, a consensus four-star prospect, makes it official. Lane, who can play both safety and linebacker, will begin his collegiate career in the secondary. Lane had offers from 21 other schools, including Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas A&M.
OL Caleb Brewer, Wyomissing:
Brewer, a three-star recruit, is ranked as high as the No. 10 in-state prospect, according to 247 Sports. Brewer verbally committed to Penn State in April. He also had offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, Pitt, Kentucky, Nebraska, Tennessee and West Virginia, among others. Brewer was on Penn State’s radar for a long time. Brewer’s former teammate, J’ven Williams, was a five-star signee in the 2023 class. Whenever Nittany Lions offensive line coach Phil Trautwein traveled to see Williams play, he started to form a relationship with Brewer.
DL DeAndre Cook, Friendship Collegiate Academy (D.C.):
Defensive line was a top priority as Franklin and his staff looked to round out their recruiting class. Cook, a three-star prospect, verbally committed in late June. Cook, a 6-foot-4, 270-pound recruit, chose Penn State over four other finalists: Oklahoma, North Carolina, Rutgers and Boston College. He also had offers from USC, Nebraska and Pitt, among others.
DL Liam Andrews, Dexter School (Mass.):
Andrews, a consensus four-star prospect and one of the top recruits in the country, ranked as high as No. 119 overall in the 2024 class by 247 Sports. Andrews is listed as both an offensive and defensive lineman by recruiting services. He could play either side of the ball at the next level for the Nittany Lions, but he will start in Deion Barnes’ room at defensive tackle. Andrews verbally committed to the Nittany Lions in July. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound prospect had offers from 29 other schools, including LSU, Michigan, Ohio State and Notre Dame.
WR Peter Gonzalez, Central Catholic:
Gonzalez had to prove himself to Franklin and earn Penn State’s full attention. The three-star suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a 7-on-7 competition in January 2022. Penn State still offered him. So did Miami, Virginia Tech, Pitt and West Virginia. But his Power Five future depended on how he recovered. In June, he put on a show at a camp in Holuba Hall, gaining the trust of Franklin, wide receivers coach Marques Hagans and the rest of the staff. Gonzalez is the son of former Pitt quarterback Pete Gonzalez.
DT T.A. Cunningham, Grayson (Ga.):
Cunningham, at one point a five-star prospect, had a winding road to Penn State after playing for four different high schools. “There’s been adversity and challenges, and every time one of the challenges surfaced, you handled it the right way,” Franklin told Cunningham on Penn State’s live stream. “… We truly believe that once we get you here on this campus, in this structure, with our support academically and athletically, you’re going to thrive.” Cunningham also had offers from Georgia, Florida State, LSU and a host of Power Five programs.
WR Josiah Brown, Malverne Senior (N.Y.):
Brown, a 5-foot-11 speedster, is widely considered one of the best receivers in the northeast. Brown picked Penn State over a final three that included Georgia and Rutgers. He also had offers from Alabama, Florida State, Oklahoma, Notre Dame and more. He’ll be one of three receivers to sign, along with Central Catholic’s Peter Gonzalez and Imhotep’s Tyseer Denmark.
OL Donovan Harbour, Waukesha (Wisc.):
In the last six years, Wisconsin has never failed to sign the No. 1 in-state prospect and has secured seven of the state’s 10 four-star prospects. Since 2017, the best in Wisconsin have stayed in Wisconsin. That wasn’t the case in the 2024 class. Garrett Sexton was the No. 1 in-state prospect with Waukesha’s Corey Smith and Donovan Harbour ranking third and sixth, respectively, per 247 Sports. Harbour, a 6-foot-3, 315-pounder, is a four-star prospect who projects to play on the interior offensive line.
OT Garrett Sexton, Arrowhead (Wisc.):
Sexton, one of the biggest risers in the class, is in. Sexton was a quarterback but made the switch as a junior. The 6-foot-6 recruit committed to the position and the body transformation that was required. He went from a 195-pound sophomore to a 225-pound junior. Now, he stands at 260 pounds. On top of being a talented player, Sexton is a bright kid with offers from Princeton and Stanford. Sexton will be one of three Wisconsin natives to sign, along with Waukesha running back Corey Smith and lineman Donovan Harbour.
RB Corey Smith, Waukesha (Wisc.):
Smith is the first of three Wisconsin natives to make it official. Smith is joining teammate and four-star offensive lineman Donovan Harbour, as well as Arrowhead four-star lineman Garrett Sexton. The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder had offers from Notre Dame, Auburn, Tennessee, Michigan State, Iowa, Nebraska and a host of other Power Five schools. Smith rushed for 2,339 yards and 42 touchdowns the last two seasons, per MaxPreps.
TE Luke Reynolds, Cheshire Academy
Three Philadelphia-area football players who have committed to Penn State’s 2024 recruiting class, from left, Bonner Prendergast’s Mylachi Williams, Imhotep’s Kenny Woseley and Tyseer Denmark.
Reynolds, the No. 1 tight end recruit in the country and arguably the top prospect in Penn State’s 2024 class, is officially a Nittany Lion. It’s been a rapid rise to the top for Reynolds, a five-star talent and the No. 30 overall prospect in the 2024 recruiting cycle, according to 247 Sports. Reynolds was a three-star when he committed to Penn State in March. The Massachusetts native was a quarterback going into his junior year at Cheshire Academy, splitting time. Reynolds switched to tight end in an effort to get on the field. “When it happened, it just clicked,” Reynolds told PennLive. “The transition was smooth. Ever since that first time lining up at tight end, it just felt right.”
(Conn.): DB Jon Mitchell, Mandarin (Fla.):
Mitchell, a four-star prospect, is ranked as high as the No. 9 cornerback and the No. 83 prospect overall nationally by on3. The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder also had offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Miami and Notre Dame, among others. Mitchell is expected to be joined by Mandarin teammate and Penn State commit Antoine Belgrave-Shorter.
RB Quinton Martin, Belle Vernon:
Martin, a four-star recruit and consensus top-100 player nationally, was ranked as the No. 1 in-state prospect by 247 Sports, Rivals and ESPN. Martin played both running back and safety at Belle Vernon, though he expects to start his Penn State career on offense. This past season, Martin tallied 1,202 rushing yards, 753 receiving yards and 28 offensive touchdowns. As a junior, he accumulated 1,703 total yards and 28 offensive touchdowns. Martin had interest from Ohio State, Texas and Notre Dame. But his decision came down to two: Penn State and Pitt, the hometown program that extended him his first offer. And he picked Penn State.
LB Kari Jackson, West Bloomfield (Mich.):
Jackson, a four-star linebacker, makes it official. A 6-foot1, 220-pound prospect, Jackson picked Penn State over Wisconsin, Stanford, Maryland, Missouri, Cincinnati and Central Florida. Jackson’s high school experience was different than most. After his freshman year at West Bloomfield, he went down to IMG Academy in Florida for his sophomore season. He returned to West Bloomfield as a junior and put up gaudy numbers: 103 tackles (65 solo) and 26 tackles for loss in only seven games, per 247 Sports.
OL Cooper Cousins, McDowell:
Cousins, a four-star lineman, is considered a top-120 prospect nationally by 247 Sports, ESPN and on3. He’s ranked as high as the No. 2 in-state recruit and the No. 2 interior offensive lineman in the 2024 class, according to 247 Sports. Cousins was the first member of Penn State’s 2024 class, committing in January 2022. Cousins became a key recruiter for Franklin and his staff. The 6-foot-6, 305-pounder is one of the top linemen in the 2024 class who played both center and guard at McDowell.
DL Xavier Gilliam, Quince Orchard (Md.):
Gilliam, a four-star edge rusher, became the first to make his verbal commitment official. Gilliam picked Penn State back in June, choosing the Nittany Lions over offers from Maryland, N.C. State, Ole Miss, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech and West Virginia, among others. It’s expected that his Quince Orchard teammate, four-star defensive end Jaylen Harvey, will also sign with Penn State.
Quinton Martin is entering a stacked running back room at Penn State. Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen confirmed they will both be back for their junior seasons, avoiding the temptation of the transfer portal. Allen and Singleton, who have amassed 4,057 scrimmage yards and 40 touchdowns in two seasons, will remain focal points of the offense in 2024.
But that didn’t put off Martin, the Belle Vernon star and No. 1 prospect in Pennsylvania who signed with Penn State’s 2024 recruiting class on Wednesday.
“He’s coming into one of the best running back rooms in the country, and that didn’t intimidate him,” James Franklin said on early signing day. “He wants to come in, compete and see how things play out. And we are going to put him in position to do so.”
Despite having two future NFL backs ahead of him on the depth chart upon arrival, Martin has a real opportunity to get on the field and make an impact for the Nittany Lions as a true freshman next season.
Martin is one of the most offensively flexible players in the 2024 cycle. While the top-100 prospect is formally joining Penn State as a running back, he was listed by 247 Sports as the No. 4 “athlete” in the country. Martin, who played both sides of the ball at Belle Vernon, is a dynamic running back who can provide some serious pop in the passing game.
Martin accumulated 2,460 rushing yards and 38 rushing touchdowns as a senior and junior at Belle Vernon, leading the Leopards to back-toback PIAA titles, including this year’s win over District 11 champion Northwestern Lehigh. He also contributed 1,188 receiving yards and 17 receiving touchdowns on 81 catches in that two-year stretch. Martin’s role as a receiver grew as a senior with 764 yards and 11 scores on 54 catches.
That’s what you want to see if you’re Franklin and new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, who’s done a good job over the years of getting his best playmakers the ball in space.
“I think in today’s college football or the NFL, the more ways you can use running backs, the better,” Franklin said. “I think we made a huge investment this offseason and during the season to use our running backs in different ways, and we want to continue to grow in that area.”
“You want to recruit as many guys like that as you can because there’s no limit to the things that they can do on the field,” wide receivers coach and offensive recruiting coordinator Marques Hagans said of Martin. “… Running back can be his best position. Wide receiver can be his best position. But as long as he’s on our team, we’re a better team. So where he ends up or where we put him, the sky’s the limit. He gives you so much flexibility.”
Hagans joked that he wants to stay on running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider’s Christmas list. So for now Hagans is OK with Martin beginning his collegiate career with the tailbacks. But there’s a real chance, especially with Kotelnicki calling plays, that Martin thrives in a hybrid role.
Terry Smith, the team’s cornerbacks coach and defensive recruiting coordinator, knows Martin well. The Pittsburgh native spent plenty of time over the years at Belle Vernon building a relationship with Martin and helping secure his commitment.
Smith watched games in which Belle Vernon leaned on Martin, handing him the rock, flanking him out wide, putting him in motion and having him run routes. Smith called him a “mismatch.” Smith also saw “another side” to Martin when he visited for a summer prospect camp.
“When we were watching him in one-on-ones and it was all about him, this guy’s dynamic,” Smith said. “His route-running, his hands, his ability to see and find the football and his fluidity is unparalleled. … We’re just excited to get him here and see what he can do for us.”