Breaking down Rasheed Walker's commitment to Penn State

Penn State has invested considerable time and effort into recruiting Rivals100 offensive lineman Rasheed Walker and all of it has paid off. The Waldorf (Md.) North Point star has announced he will sign with the Nittany Lions instead of Ohio State or Virginia Tech. Penn State was seen as the favorite for a long time and there was a point before his senior season that Walker nearly committed to Penn State but he wanted to take some additional time to consider Virginia Tech and Ohio State.

IN HIS OWN WORDS…

“I feel like I have a really good opportunity up at Penn State and they can get me to where I need be,” Walker said. “It's a great school with great academics and a great football team. I love the tradition and the area. I felt like that was the place for me.

“I really do like Tyler Bowen and it's cool that he's one of the Penn State coaches,” he said. “I won't really say that him going there made a huge impact but I just know that I can impact the team in a positive way. They can help me and I can help them. I feel like, if I have the right mindset, prepare myself before I get there, and grind really hard when I get there, I can play early.

“When you go to a place and you already feel comfortable and at home with people you already know, it's a bit easier mentally,” said Walker. “That was a big factor.”

WHY IT’S BIG FOR PENN STATE…

The Nittany Lions had a few spots for offensive linemen in this recruiting class and ended up signing four players that could prove to be upgrades over players they previously signed. Walker is the highest rated of the group and is the closest to field ready of the four because of his advanced techniques and aggressive nature on the field. The progress he has shown over the last two years with his patience and timing when pass blocking has been really impressive.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE PROGRAMS THAT MISSED OUT…

Walker was very close to choosing Ohio State but ended up going with Penn State. The Buckeyes surely would’ve liked to sign Walker along with five-star Nick Petit-Frere but Walker’s relationships and the opportunities at Penn State helped push him towards the Nittany Lions. Virginia Tech had been a major player for Walker since early in his recruitment but the Hokies just couldn’t get over the hump. The Hokies signed four offensive linemen in their 2018 class and landing Walker would’ve been icing on the cake. Virginia Tech and Ohio State will look to add an elite tackle like Walker in the 2019 class.