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Pennsylvania native Khalil Dinkins commits to Penn State

James Franklin and Penn State's coaching staff picked up one of the more underrated prospects in the region Wednesday with the addition of athlete Khalil Dinkins.

Listed at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Dinkins was recruited to play tight end for the Nittany Lions, although it should be noted that he could contribute in multiple ways.

"I really built a connection with them," Dinkins said. "Between Coach Terry [Smith], Coach Franklin and Coach [Tyler] Bowen, I feel good about all of them. I'm really excited for them to coach me. To have Coach Franklin as my head coach and Coach Bowen as a tight ends coach is exciting. Then, I have Coach Smith, who I feel like I can talk to about anything. I feel like I've built a real connection with them."

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A member of North Allegheny High School in Wexford, Pa., Dinkins came onto Penn State's radar in the summer of 2019, but it wasn’t until this past February that he earned an offer from the Nittany Lions. Smith led this recruitment from the very start, while Bowen also had a big impact this past spring and summer, after he was offered.

Between May 2019 and April 2020, Dinkins earned 18 verbal scholarship offers, although it's been clear for months now that he would end up at either Pittsburgh or Penn State. Both schools hosted him on multiple occasions, with his last visit to Penn State coming way back in January when he and his father spent a personal day with the staff. The recruiting win over an in-state rival is also significant when you consider his father, Darnell, played for the Panthers in the late '90s. He went on to play nearly a decade in the NFL.

Dinkins is expected to be the only tight end in Penn State's Class of 2021. He's the 14th prospect to join the class and the first since linebacker Jamari Buddin back on July 17. He's also the fourth Pennsylvania prospect along with wide receiver Lonnie White Jr., offensive lineman Nate Bruce and kicker Sander Sahaydak.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dinkins has totaled 340 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns through the first five games of the season. North Allegheny is also 5-0 on the season and one of the top five programs in Pennsylvania for Class 6A. Throughout the spring, Dinkins spent time training with current Boston College quarterback and fellow Pittsburgh native Phil Jurkovec.

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