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Penn State adds third verbal commitment of the week

By Audrey Snyder/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 8 years ago

Remember last spring when James Franklin mentioned defense tackle as an area of need in the upcoming recruiting classes?

Penn State took another step toward filling the void Franklin mentioned this offseason when the Nittany Lions secured a verbal commitment from three-star defensive tackle Christian Colon Thursday evening. The Independence (Charlotte, N.C.) High Schooler picked Penn State over scholarship offers from the likes of North Carolina, Mississippi State, Pittsburgh, Maryland, Miami and UCLA. 

The 6-foot-3, 325-pound prospect is the second defensive lineman to give his verbal pledge to Penn State this week, joining future classmate and fellow three-star defensive tackle Michael Dwumfour who did so on Tuesday. Punter Blake Gillikin gave Penn State his verbal commitment on Sunday, bringing the 2016 class to 13 members with more than seven months until Signing Day. 

Colon’s verbal pledge bumped Penn State up to No. 9 in the 247Sports 2016 recruiting rankings, moving the Nittany Lions past Georgia. Penn State is 10th in Rivals’ class ranking.

Penn State’s class is fourth in the conference in the 247Sports rankings, behind Ohio State (3), Michigan State (6) and Michigan (7). 

In the spirit of the never-ending world that is college football recruiting, Penn State will host a prospect camp Friday from 6-9:30 p.m. under the lights in State College. Penn State’s staff wrapped up their satellite camp tour last week with a stop at Old Dominion and Friday’s prospect camp will be their last one until after the NCAA’s dead period concludes on July 12. 

Audrey Snyder: asnyder@post-gazette.com and Twitter: @audsnyder4