Penn State's red-hot recruiting reaches higher as season closes in

The best receivers in the nation are coming to Penn State like never before.

And they now have one of the most intriguing quarterback prospects around to get them the ball.

Thanks to a high-profile recruiting surge, the Nittany Lions boast one of the top incoming receiving groups in the nation and have jumped back into the Top Five of the overall rankings.

In a span of five days, Penn State received verbal commitments from six players in its 2018 class, each with realistic hopes of ending up an elite four-star prospect before the end of this cycle.

Two of the most important recent additions were receivers — with potentially one or two more elite pass-catchers still to join.

Penn State now has the No. 3 recruiting class in the nation, behind only Miami and Ohio State. That comes even after losing its two biggest names to de-commitments this spring.

The Lions' impressive receiving group already included five-star prospect Justin Shorter of New Jersey. But during the annual Lasch Bash recruiting event last weekend they also pulled in Harrisburg's Shaquon Anderson-Butts and Maryland's Daniel George, a Top 200 national player with an enviable combination of size, downfield speed and lateral quickness.

Overall, the Lions also added pledges from Florida defensive lineman Judge Culpepper, Connecticut quarterback Will Levis, Iowa kicker Jake Pinegar and, most recently, stud Philadelphia safety Isheem Young, a national talent.

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The Lions also seem to be trending upwards for these undecided four-star prospects: Maryland linemen P.J. Mustipher and Rasheed Walker, Ohio defensive lineman Aeneas Hawkins and New Jersey defensive end Jayson Oweh. 

"At receiver, it's hard to do much better than they're doing," said Rivals.com Mid-Atlantic recruiting analyst Adam Friedman. 

Shorter checks in at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds with Anderson-Butts at 6-0, 205 and George at 6-1, 200.

"Absolutely sensational," is how Scout.com national recruiting analyst Brian Dohn described the receiver group. "When Anderson-Butts is your third-highest rated receiver, that's a pretty good class."

This comes after the Lions' excellent wideout haul from a year ago, including four-star slot receiver K.J. Hamler, who may play as a true freshman this fall.

Consider, too, how the Lions are still chasing 2018 receiver recruits Jahan Dotson, another speedy slot receiver, and big-bodied Solomon Enis, the son of former Penn State star tailback Curtis Enis.

This class also contains two star tight ends and nationally ranked tailback Ricky Slade from Virginia.

And Levis could very well be throwing them the football in years to come. The 6-4 Connecticut quarterback earned a scholarship offer last Friday night after running and throwing for James Franklin and offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead — then committed the next day.

Though just a three-star prospect, Levis boasts impressive running, jumping and agility numbers for his size and position, to go along with top-tier arm strength. He certainly lacks the national rep of Justin Fields — the Georgia QB who left the Lions in June — but is surging of late, earning recent offers from Florida State, Ole Miss and Iowa.

"Penn State is in really good position for the future," Friedman said. "At tailback, (Saquon) Barkley, (Miles) Sanders, Slade? That can match up with any team in the country. And they're not done yet. There are still some big fish for them to get."

The biggest is Micah Parsons, a Harrisburg High teammate and close friend of Anderson-Butts. Parson is arguably the nation's top overall recruit in this class and was committed to Penn State for months before stepping away in April.

Could he now be swayed to rejoin the Lions?

Even more important may be simply keeping this growing class in-tact over the next several months.

"They're really flexing their muscles on the recruiting trail nationally," Friedman said. "The success of the program last year really broadened their recruiting.

"That's what it takes to be a super power."