Penn State adds elite offensive tackle, closes in on Top Five recruiting class

One of Penn State's highest-rated recruiting classes ever continues to finish strong on National Signing Day.

Coach James Franklin and his staff received a commitment this afternoon from prized Waldorf, Maryland, offensive tackle Rasheed Walker. He is 6-foot-6 and between 290 and 300 pounds and is rated as a four-star recruiting prospect.

He ultimately picked the Nittany Lions over Ohio State.

Penn State, however, did lose out on four-star Arizona receiver Solomon Enis — the son of former Penn State star running back Curtis Enis. He picked Utah over the Lions, USC and Arizona State.

Meanwhile, former verbal commitment Shaquon Anderson-Butts has signed with Iowa Western Community College, a junior college. He is five-star Penn State recruit Micah Parsons' former teammate at Harrisburg High.

Penn State held onto the No. 4 spot nationally in the 247Sports composite rankings as National Signing Day progressed. It will finish its 2018 recruiting class with 23 commitments. Ohio State, with the No. 2 class in the country, is the only other Big Ten school in the Top 15.

Walker's addition gives Penn State's two of the nation's top-rated offensive tackle prospects. Nana Asiedo of Stafford, Virginia, signed his letter of intent during the early period in December.

The class also includes tackle Bryce Effner of Aurora, Illinois.

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Landing Walker is a key finishing punch for a class that includes more elite talent than in any recruiting class under Franklin — and more than in any Penn State class in over a decade.

"(Walker) could be a multi-year starter. He comes in more ready to play than any of the other offensive linemen in this class," said Adam Friedman, a Mid-Atlantic recruiting analyst with Rivals.com. "He's more technically sound and more aggressive and maybe more physically gifted.

"He's already built to complete."  

Walker will join a class boasting immediate, game-changing talent in five-star linebacker Parsons, receiver Justin Shorter and tailback Ricky Slade.

Of course, back-to-back 11-win seasons and two big bowl games has spurred the recruiting rise.

'You're not just seeing the building for depth and development (as in previous years)," Friedman said. "You're seeing headline-type of recruits in this class. You're seeing upgrades at positions, not just back-filling. You're seeing some big time commitments."

It is uncertain if Penn State's class will remain in the Top Five as other power schools such as Alabama and Clemson make their late runs. But a premium Top 10 close is secured. That will rival the ranking of the 2006 class, arguably the best since most national recruiting sites began tracking such things 20 years.

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