STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Penn State's run on commitments is moving at a back-breaking pace and four-star Imhotep Charter safety Isheem Young added his verbal pledge on Tuesday afternoon.
During Young's announcement ceremony in Philadelphia he chose the Nittany Lions over other finalists, including Ohio State, Clemson, West Virginia, Alabama and Maryland. He is the sixth player to give James Franklin a verbal pledge since Friday. It's part of a loaded recruiting run that coincided with last weekend's Lasch Bash recruiting event and between Friday and Tuesday the run on commitments included defensive lineman Judge Culpepper, quarterback Will Levis, wide receiver Shaquon Anderson-Butts, receiver Daniel George, kicker Jake Pinegar and Young.
4-star safety Isheem Young makes a splash with his commitment #BRCommitmentWeek ? pic.twitter.com/LO3DBAxjyf
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 18, 2017
Young shares the same high school with redshirt freshman defensive end Shaka Toney. Toney's mother was even on hand for the celebration at the high school, sporting Penn State gear and shouting, "We Are." She was joined by many of Young's youth football coaches, high school coaches, teammates and friends. His announcement was livestreamed by multiple outlets throughout the state and keeping Young in-state is another win for Franklin and staff.
"I want to thank God, my family, my friends, my coaches and I look forward to spending the next three or four years at Penn State University," Young said.
Here's what the 2018 class, ranked No. 3 in the nation per 247sports.com, looks like with the addition of Young:
• WR Justin Shorter
• RB Ricky Slade
• OT Nana Asiedu
• TE Zack Kuntz
• DE Dorian Hardy
• TE Pat Freiermuth
• WR Daniel George
• LB Nick Tarburton
• CB Jordan Miner
• LB Jesse Luketa
• OT Antwan Reed
• WR Shaquon Anderson-Butts
• Saf. Isaiah Humphries
• CB Trent Gordon
• DE Judge Culpepper
• LB Charlie Katshir
• OT Bryce Effner
• QB Will Levis
• K Jake Pinegar
Some of the hits Young delivers in the highlight video below from his junior year are outstanding. He's jarring the ball out, flying all over the place and then coming down with interceptions too. Having a ballhawk back there for years to come certainly is a plus for the future of this defense and getting this class to 20 members in July is also quite impressive. Penn State's magic number is likely around 25 and as this past weekend showed spots are filling quickly so in all likelihood there will be a few prospects on the outside looking in given the way this class has taken off.
And, if you're looking for a premier high school game this fall, Imhotep Charter is scheduled to play Harrisburg High -- which features Penn State wide receiver pledge Shaquon Anderson-Butts and five-star talent Micah Parsons -- on Aug. 26 at 1 p.m. in Harrisburg. I have that one circled on my calendar and might even make it a double-header of sorts with Kuntz, the highly-touted tight end, and his Camp Hill team playing at Palmyra the night before.