As the start of the Early Signing Period on Dec. 4 got closer, it appeared to be a three-team race for class of 2025 Michigan commit and four-star tight end Andrew Olesh: the Wolverines, Oregon and Penn State. However, Olesh decided to push back his decision to the final day of the Early Signing Period on Friday.
Olesh — who currently attends Southern Lehigh High School in Center Valley, Pa. — has flipped his commitment to the Nittany Lions and will sign with PSU, he announced Friday.
He originally committed to head coach Sherrone Moore, tight ends coach Steve Casula and Michigan in July, following his official visit in late June. Olesh stuck with the Wolverines throughout his senior campaign and visited multiple times, but he kept his options open by taking trips to other schools throughout the fall.
Olesh's last known appearance in Happy Valley was on Nov. 2 to watch Penn State's 20-13 loss to Ohio State. He also took an official visit with PSU in June and has visited unofficially many other times throughout his recruitment.
He returned to Ann Arbor during the weekend of Nov. 23 to watch Michigan's dominant 50-6 victory over Northwestern, and was on U-M campus in September for the Wolverines' 27-24 win over USC. He was also at the "BBQ at the Big House" event late July.
Olesh took an official visit to Notre Dame during the weekend of Nov. 9. It appeared the Fighting Irish were also ready to make a late push for Olesh as well, but things went in a different direction.
Meanwhile, Olesh was in Eugene to check out Oregon on Oct. 26 to see the Ducks' win over Illinois and again during the weekend of Nov. 30 for an official visit when Oregon defeated Washington.
Ultimately, Olesh decided that he wanted to stay in the state of Pennsylvania and play for head coach James Franklin, offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, co-offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Ty Howle and the Nittany Lions.
The history of tight end development at Penn State and how the Nittany Lions have utilized tight end Tyler Warren in 2024 are factors that helped PSU in flipping Olesh.
Michigan was recently able to flip five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood from LSU, along with some other targets, and the word was that the Wolverines were confident they would keep Olesh in the 2025 class as well. However, Olesh has had a change of heart.
Olesh ranks as the No. 3 recruit in the state of Pennsylvania, No. 5 tight end and No. 164 prospect overall in the 2025 cycle.
The 6-foot-5, 216-pound Olesh also took official visits to Alabama in late May/early June and to Florida during the weekend of June 7.
In addition to the schools already mentioned, Olesh had scholarship offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Boston College, Cincinnati, Colorado, Connecticut, Duke, Florida State, Indiana, Miami (FL.), Michigan State, Mississippi, Missouri, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and several others. He received over 30 offers in total throughout his recruitment.
Olesh helped lead Southern Lehigh to a 12-3 finish in the 2024 campaign.
With Olesh now in the fold, Penn State's 2025 recruiting class increases to 27 total prospects and ranks 16th nationally. Olesh joins three-star tight end Brian Kortovich in the group.
While Michigan loses the pledge of Olesh, its now 22-member 2025 class still ranks seventh nationally.
