The super talent had been committed to Penn State for 11 months but has now announced his decommitment, which sources have described as a mutual and amicable decision. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound athlete from Newark (N.J.) Shabazz was the first recruit in Penn State’s Class of 2025 when he committed in late March 2023.
Since then, He has received offers from several schools, including Stanford, Central Michigan, James Madison, Jacksonville State, Illinois, and Towson.
“I want to start by expressing my gratitude to Coach Franklin and the entire PSU staff for offering me a scholarship,” Gaines wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I also want to thank Nittany Lion Nation for all their support and encouragement. However, after many discussions with my family, I’ve decided to decommit from Penn State University and reopen my recruitment.”
Despite this, Penn State still has 11 commitments for the class. Gaines is coming off a junior season where he recorded 60 tackles and forced a fumble while playing for Shabazz.
When he initially committed to Penn State, Gaines shared what attracted him to the program.
“I really appreciate the relationships I’ve built with the coaches on staff,” Gaines told Lions247. “Every visit has been filled with warmth and support.
“The coaches’ involvement in athletes’ lives beyond football is significant. They emphasize the importance of education and other aspects of life outside of football. Each visit has deepened my understanding of what Penn State offers beyond just the game.”
One coach who was influential, defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, has since moved to Duke, as has former defensive analyst Gabe Infante.
Before committing to Penn State, Gaines had also received offers from Temple, Delaware State, Ole Miss, Rutgers, Akron, West Virginia, and Georgia Tech.
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