Penn State has placed a clear emphasis on the defensive backfield heading into the 2026 season and beyond. Matt Campbell brought over numerous secondary pieces from Iowa State, such as safety Jeremiah Cooper and cornerback Hunter Sowell, and it’s the area he’s spent the most energy on during recruiting.
Of the team’s 21 commitments in the Class of 2027, five of them are defensive backs, and this is even after some prospects like Semajay Robinson and Zachary Gleason Jr. flipped earlier this year. Although there is still a long way to go until players from the Class of 2028 start rolling in, the Nittany Lions are trying to stake an early claim on that secondary group as well.
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Safety Geo McKnight recently spoke about the school and its knack for molding defenders, saying, “The history of that program in developing talent, especially defensive players, is really unmatched.”
McKnight is a fast-rising prospect from Ohio who just recently earned his fourth star from 247Sports. Penn State is among a long list of teams, including Big Ten rivals like Ohio State and Michigan, competing for the safety’s services, but it seems like they’re gaining some steam early on in his recruitment.
The Nittany Lions have suffered some brutal recruiting losses over the last few weeks, so becoming a favorite for McKnight would be a welcome change.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State making headway with 4-star SAF in Class of 2028
