After the Early National Signing Day has passed, the top uncommitted player in the Class of 2025, remains the primary recruit for Penn State. The four-star edge rusher from Imhotep Institute in Philadelphia, who de-committed from Ohio State in November, had been seen as a likely candidate to flip to the Nittany Lions, but he has yet to make a decision. Now, he is planning to visit another Big Ten school.
When the recruiting dead period ends, Mathis is expected to visit Florida State, UCLA, and, notably, Michigan. The Wolverines have intensified their efforts to recruit the 6-foot-6 pass rusher, with defensive line coach Lou Esposito playing a key role, and they could be in a strong position to secure his commitment, possibly beating out both Penn State and Ohio State.
Though Penn State has already secured a 27-player freshman class, leaving limited space for additional recruits, a player ranked in the top 100 by 247Sports would likely still be accommodated by most programs. The larger issue, however, is that Mathis may have lost interest in Penn State. With the Nittany Lions securing commitments from two edge rushers, Cortez Harris and Chaz Coleman, it seems Franklin and defensive line coach Deion Barnes may have shifted their focus after realizing Mathis was postponing his decision until January.
As Mathis reopens his recruitment, his choice is now expected to be between the three schools he plans to visit, rather than the original group of contenders.
Despite a less-than-ideal season under Sherrone Moore’s leadership, Michigan is continuing to elevate its recruitment efforts, with Moore improving the caliber of recruits targeted. Michigan’s 2025 class is currently ranked 9th nationally and includes the No. 1 overall player, Bryce Underwood, along with five-star offensive tackle Andrew Babalola.
Penn State and Michigan have competed for several recruits in the 2025 cycle, but the race for Mathis may not be one of them. So far, the schools have largely matched each other, with Penn State flipping Andrew Olesh on signing day and Michigan landing top Penn State target Kainoa Winston early. Adding Mathis to Michigan’s strong 22-player class would further solidify the program’s status as a powerhouse under Moore.
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