The Penn State Nittany Lions are recruiting well in the 2028 recruiting class, as they have just landed quarterback James Armstrong.
The Penn State Nittany Lions scored a massive recruiting win when four-star quarterback James Armstrong committed to the program.
Armstrong, a 6’3, 225-pound signal-caller, chose Penn State over Kentucky and Pitt, the Nittany Lions’ biggest rival. He holds a 90.66 composite rating on Rivals Industry, ranks as a top-100 player nationally, and sits at No. 3 in the state of Pennsylvania. Armstrong is also a top-10 quarterback in the 2028 class.
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His commitment post carried a simple but powerful message: “I’m home, we are.”
Armstrong’s NIL valuation on Rivals sits at $130,000. Florida State and West Virginia were also in the running before he picked Penn State. Landing a quarterback of this caliber over a rival like Pitt makes this commitment significant on multiple levels.
Penn State building one of the best 2028 classes in the country
With Armstrong’s commitment, Penn State now holds the second-best recruiting class in 2028 with three commits. The group includes four-star cornerback Deonte Flemings and kicker Carter Petri. Getting a franchise quarterback and an elite defensive back in the same cycle gives the Nittany Lions a strong foundation for the class moving forward.
Under coach Matt Campbell, Penn State’s recruiting operation has stabilized after a turbulent transition. When Campbell first took over, several players decommitted because of James Franklin’s departure. That kind of roster churn is expected during a coaching change, but things have settled since then. Campbell and his staff have recruited well, all things considered.
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Campbell’s 2027 class continues to grow
Penn State’s 2027 class currently ranks 19th nationally and sixth in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions already have a quarterback in that cycle in Will Wood, a three-star from Massachusetts. Having a quarterback committed in both 2027 and 2028 gives Campbell’s staff flexibility in how they build the rest of those classes. They can focus resources on other positions of need without scrambling for a passer later in the cycle.
Armstrong’s commitment signals that the Penn State brand remains strong in the state of Pennsylvania and nationally. Beating out Pitt for a top-10 quarterback who lives in your own state is the kind of win that builds momentum across an entire recruiting cycle. Campbell and his staff now need to keep stacking talent around Armstrong and continue proving the program is in good hands after the coaching transition.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Penn State football lands a player they have been waiting for at a position that’s extremely crucial
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