The top prospect in the state of Pennsylvania will call Penn State home as Michal Menet verbally committed to the Nittany Lions on Friday afternoon.
A Reading, Pa native, the Exeter Township four-star tackle comes in at 6-foot-5, 271 pounds. Menet announced his decision after school on Friday having cut his list from the 30 schools that offered him scholarships to just two. Duke was the other final option for Menet who ultimately decided to commit to Penn State.
Penn State’s offensive line has been the team’s biggest issue in a post sanction era which makes Menet’s commitment an important part of that rebuilding process. Even if he is redshirted to start off his career, Penn State has slowly began a stockpiling of offensive line talent, something that will certainly pay dividends in the future.
Additionally, Menet’s commitment continues what has become an aggressive and successful recruiting stretch for Penn State within the borders of Pennsylvania. While Menet’s impact on the program may not be felt for a year or two still, the perception that regional recruiting continues to lean Penn State’s way is an important footnote following today’s news.
Menet is the ninth commit for Penn State’s 2016 recruiting class. Eight of the nine commits are rated the best prospect at their respective position in their state by Scout.com. Penn State now also has verbal commitments from the top player in Maryland, New York, Massachusetts and now Pennsylvania.
“I still believe that if we can stop the kid from Pennsylvania from New Jersey or Delaware or Maryland from going out to the west coast or down south, which didn’t really happen 20 years ago,” James Franklin said last week. “If we can get back to controlling this part of the country and if we can get back to our guys taking pride in our area and our football like kids do from other areas, then I think we can get something rolling again.”
And Menet just gave Penn State a big push that it needs.
