Penn State's Class of 2022 is approaching three-quarters of the way full, and there's no signs that things are about to slow down in the weeks ahead.

As of earlyJuly, the Nittany Lions had climbed to 18 verbal commitments. Offensive lineman Drew Shelton (No. 123) remains the top-ranked player, although he's technically just one spot ahead of running back Nick Singleton (No. 124). The Lions now have 11 four-star prospects currently committed.

Defensively, Penn State still has needs at every position but defensive tackle. With limited scholarships available, ideally, the staff would like to add one more defensive end, one more linebacker, two cornerbacks and a safety. Squeezing that all in, plus a few more offensive players won't be easy, however.

Below is a breakdown of Penn State's top defensive targets in the Class of 2022.