Updated look at Penn State's 2016 recruiting class

Penn State picked up the team’s 15th verbal commitment in the 2016 class Tuesday afternoon and the addition of defensive end Daniel Joseph continues expanding the footprint of this class.

I'm proud to announce that I am officially committing to penn state university. #WeAre 😼🙌🏻👊🏻💪🏻🐱🐱🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/uSfM2yNndK

— Daniel Joseph (@_DanielJoseph_) June 30, 2015

The Lake Forest (Ill) prospect is the 12th player from outside of Pennsylvania to give the Lions a verbal pledge, continuing to follow the staff’s philosophy of recruiting nationally by position while continuing to try and keep the top in-state talents at Penn State. So far that’s been the case for the most part as running back Miles Sanders, center Connor McGovern and offensive lineman Michal Menet, all among the top in-state talents are on board with Penn State.

Even with it being the NCAA’s dead period until July 12 the staff will continue working their phones while also focusing on beginning to put the 2017 class together. It’s about that time of year where one or two players from the 2017 cycle begin making college decisions and it was nearly a year ago that Penn State picked up verbal pledges from the first two 2016 members in Sanders and 4-star defensive end Shane Simmons.

I caught up with Sanders before he heads out to The Opening next week (look for a Q&A with him on here Wednesday morning) who was the first 2016 prospect to give James Franklin his pledge. Staying committed for about 19 months, which is what it will be by signing day, is a long time for any high schooler to keep his or her mind set on one place.

Here’s where the 2016 class stands with the addition of Joseph:

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