Following a challenging offensive season and the departures of KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Dante Cephas through the transfer portal, concerns have risen about James Franklin and wide receiver coach Marques Hagans’ ability to recruit and develop talent at the wide receiver position. Although Julian Fleming joined Penn State via the transfer portal this offseason, the future of the receiving corps looks uncertain if the 2025 recruiting class does not bring in more talent.
The standout wide receiver/TE hybrid in the 2025 class has been four-star Jeff Exinor Jr. from Maryland, and Penn State managed to avoid a major setback by securing four-star Koby Howard from Florida, despite missing out on prospects like Lex Cyrus, Matthew Outten, and Quincy Porter. Nevertheless, Franklin and Hagans still need to add another key player to strengthen the passing game, and their focus is clear.
On Wednesday, Florida four-star Naeshaun Montgomery named Penn State as one of his six finalists, alongside Alabama, Florida, Florida State, LSU, and Oregon.
The 6-foot-1, 165-pound high school senior is currently predicted by 247Sports experts to commit to Florida, but recent social media activity suggests he might reconsider and join Howard, another Floridian, in heading north to Happy Valley.
Penn State’s 2025 recruiting class took a hit with running back Kiandrea Barker’s de-commitment, leaving the team with 23 players, only two running backs, and currently ranked 15th in the country.
With Exinor and Howard on board, Penn State’s receiving group is shaping up well, and reports from fall camp suggest that true freshman Tyseer Denmark could emerge as a promising new talent. These developments have eased some of the pressure on Franklin and Hagans, making Montgomery’s potential commitment a valuable addition.
As the regular season nears, recruiting for 2025 may not be the staff’s top priority, but they will certainly be keenly watching Montgomery’s announcement scheduled for August 25 at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Your article sucks because it’s click bait and has me rolling in my grave