Though it didn’t match the intensity of the previous month, which featured 11 new commitments, Penn State football remained busy on the recruiting trail in May, adding seven names to its 2027 class.
The month’s haul is highlighted by a quarterback and other intriguing offensive skill players, bringing the Nittany Lions’ group up to 20 total commitments. Here’s a recap of the action.
May 1: Wide receiver Jamir Dean
Dean joined the group on the first of the month, giving new wide receivers coach Kashif Moore a second player in the cycle. He ranks as a composite three-star but is heralded as a four-star by 247Sports.
May 7: Offensive tackle David Tarawallie
The Nittany Lions bulked up in the trenches with the addition of three-star Tarawallie, who committed less than 24 hours after receiving an offer from offensive line coach Ryan Clanton.
May 12: Running back Aiden Gibson
Arguably Penn State’s biggest recruiting win of the month was four-star Gibson, who brings legitimate track speed to Happy Valley. He ranks as a top-10 recruit from South Carolina and, as a bonus, the Nittany Lions beat out their former running backs coach Stan Drayton — now with the Gamecocks — for the commitment.
May 14: Running back Chukwuma Odoh
It didn’t take long for Penn State to add a second running back to the group, with three-star Odoh pledging just two days after Gibson. He ranks as the No. 2 running back in the state of New Jersey, per the 247Sports composite, adding to a growing group of commits from The Garden State.
Penn State added its quarterback of the future on the 15th, with three-star Wood announcing his decision after much speculation. Wood had a high level of success as a junior at Xaverian Brothers High School, throwing 42 touchdowns with just one interception, but the lower quality of competition and his size prevented him from having a higher star rating.
May 22: Defensive lineman Aniti Paiva
The Nittany Lions’ only defensive addition of the month came from three-star Paiva, a true nose tackle who brings great size (6-foot-3, 320 pounds) to the interior. He ranks as the No. 12 recruit from Utah, marking Penn State’s first commitment from the state since at least 1999, and potentially first ever.
Currie committed less than an hour after Paiva, becoming Penn State’s most recent recruiting victory. He ranks as a three-star and the No. 3 tight end from New Jersey, though he only recently decided to focus on football — he was previously committed to Virginia as one of the top lacrosse prospects in the country.
