Class Breakdown: Cristian Driver is Penn State football's 22nd 2022 commit
Penn State Nittany Lions football's recruiting Class of 2022 reached 22 commits on Monday, as Cristian Driver announced his verbal pledge.
Driver, from Texas, is the No. 229 overall prospect in the Rivals250 and the No. 38 player in Longhorn State in the 2022 class.
Get to know Driver, and the rest of Penn State's Class of 2022, below:
By the numbers
Quarterbacks: 2 — Pribula, Allar
Running Backs: 2 — Singleton, Allen
Wide Receivers: 3 — Saunders, Ivey, Johnson
Tight Ends: 1 — Cross
Offensive Linemen: 3 — Shelton, McNeil, Nelson
Defensive Ends: 2— Talley, Dennis-Sutton
Defensive Tackles: 2 — Artis, Durant
Linebackers: 1 — Wylie
Cornerbacks: 1 — Allen
Safeties: 1 — Mills
Athletes: 3 — Driver, Flowers, Miller
Specialists: 1 — Bacchetta
Athlete Cristian Driver
Cristian Driver is another addition for the Nittany Lions who has the potential to play on either side of the ball when he arrives in Happy Valley. His preference is to play receiver, but he can also get a look at safety — just like Mehki Flowers. Driver is the son of Green Bay Packers legend Donald Driver, and played his high school football at Liberty Christian in Texas. Should he play wideout at Penn State, he would be the second Penn State receiver to come out of Texas in three classes, joining Parker Washington.
Driver wraps up his recruitment with a total of 43 offers. His publicly released a top-12 that included Oregon, Nebraska, Texas A&M, LSU, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Florida, Penn State, Alabama, Michigan, Texas, and Oklahoma. He took unofficial visits to Oklahoma and Texas Tech as an underclassman, but the Nittany Lions got his only official visit this summer before locking down his commitment on July 29.
Cristian Driver commits to Penn State
10 Thinks to Know: Cristian Driver
Film Evaluation: Cristian Driver
Athlete Cam Miller
Penn State's coaching staff secured one of its top remaining targets when Cam Miller gave the Nittany Lions his verbal commitment on July 26. Miller is listed as an athlete by Rivals but everything points toward him playing cornerback for Penn State at the next level. Should that be the case, he will be the second cornerback in this class for Penn State, joining Louisiana prospect Jordan Allen, who committed on July 17.
Ultimately, MIller's choice came down to a final two of Penn State and Virginia Tech. He visited the Hokies first on June 4, heading up to Penn State for a visit three days later. The Nittany Lions then got an official visit from Miller on June 25th as well. Miller also received offers from the likes of Duke, Miami, Notre Dame and South Carolina. He plays his high school football at Trinity Christian Academy and is the No. 83 prospect in the state of Florida in this cycle. Penn State thinks they found a sleeper in Miller.
Defensive End Dani Dennis-Sutton
An already solid class got a whole lot better on July 22, as Dani Dennis-Sutton gave the Nittany Lions his verbal commitment. Dennis-Sutton gives this Penn State class a five-star presence that it hasn't had since signing two five stars in the 2018 class. Dennis-Sutton is the top-ranked defensive end in the country, the No. 11 overall recruits in his class and the top-ranked prospect in the state of Maryland.
The Nittany Lions were in the picture early with Dennis-Sutton, who visited campus even before the pandemic began back on October 19, 2019. He finished his recruitment with 35 offers, including the likes of Ohio State, Oklahoma, Michigan, USC and Florida. Ultimately, Dennis-Sutton set a final three of Alabama, Georgia and Penn State. The presumptive leaders for a large portion of his recruitment, the Nittany Lions had to fight off a late run by Georgia to land his verbal commitment.
Dani Dennis-Sutton commitment story
10 Things to Know: Dani Dennis-Sutton
Film Evaluation: Dani Dennis-Sutton
Cornerback Jordan Allen
Cornerback Jordan Allen carried Penn State's commitment total to 20 when he pledged to join the Nittany Lions on July 17. When Allen signs with the Nittany Lions, he'll become just the second Louisiana prospect to do so in the Rivals era, joining Michael Mauti. Allen plays his high school football at Lafayette Christian Academy, and stands at 6-foot, 180 pounds.
Allen selected the Nittany Lions from among 42 scholarship offers. His other suitors included the likes of Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin. The Bulldogs, Louisville and Miami were the three schools who competed with Penn State down to the end for Allen's signature. Allen's two official visits went to Miami and Louisville, as he was unable to take his Penn State official due to personal circumstances. Still, his interest in the Nittany Lions never wavered, as he became the 20th member of Penn State's 2022 class.
Running Back Kaytron Allen
Kaytron Allen made it two weeks in a row that Penn State picked up an exciting running back prospect on the recruiting trail. Allen plays his high school football at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla, where he was a teammate of Drew Shelton's last season. Allen, a four-star prospect and the No. 6 running back in his class according to Rivals ratings, wraps up his recruiting holding 35 offers, including Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State and Texas.
Allen boasts plenty of power at 215 pounds while maintaining a low center of gravity. He became the go-to running back for IMG last season, and has the chance to build on that foundation in 2021. Allen is the type of running back that doesn't hesitate to work between the tackles, and, while he doesn't have amazing speed, he boasts great vision and excellent patience as a ball carrier.
10 things to Know: RB Kaytron Allen
Running Back Nick Singleton
Penn State claimed a massive victory when it secured the verbal commitment of in-state running back Nick Singleton on July 6. Singleton attends Governor Mifflin High School in Shillington, Pennsylvania, and will bring a dynamic presence to the Penn State running back room when he arrives in the fall. Singleton is renowned for his strength, and can also run away from defenders when he needs to. He is the first running back commit in Penn State's 2022 class.
Singleton chose the Nittany Lions from among a long list of suitors. As his recruitment neared its conclusion, there were some rumblings that Notre Dame was the team to beat, but the Nittany Lion eventually won out to secure his commitment. Singleton is the No. 2 prospect in the state of Pennsylvania in this class and ranks as the No. 8 back in the country. He finished his recruitment with 37 offers, including Alabama, Florida State, Ohio State and Pitt.
Nick Singleton commitment interview
What landing Singleton means for PSU
Defensive Tackle Kaleb Artis
The third four-star defensive lineman to land with the Nittany Lions on July 4, Kaleb Artis is one of the most important prospects for the Nittany Lions in this class. He is the second New York Cty native to join the group, alongside offensive lineman Maleek McNeil, and the second defensive tackle, joining Zane Durant. Artis's first strong relationship at Penn State came via Deion Barnes, but he gradually formed a very strong bond with defensive line coach John Scott Jr. as well.
Artis ultimately selected the Nittany Lions among 20 total offers, including Notre Dame, Rutgers, Texas, Wisconsin and Texas A&M. His final four schools were Florida State, Virginia, Auburn and Penn State. He left a visit with the Tigers impressed with what they had to offer, but a trip to State College a week later also impressed, and it's the Nittany Lions who walked away with Artis's verbal commitment.
Kaleb Artis commits to Penn State
Defensive Tackle Zane Durant
Penn State offered Zane Durant back in January, and made its intentions clear with consistent communication. Defensive line coach John Scott formed a strong bond with Durant, and Scott's South Carolina roots helped him identify with Durant. That helped get Durant on campus on June 18 for an official visit. After his visit, he admitted that the Nittany Lions were among his top three schools. Penn State's family atmosphere helped Durant ultimately decide he wanted to play his college football in Happy Valley.
Durant wraps up his recruitment with 15 offers. He visited UCF, Indiana and Miami — twice — before giving his verbal commitment to James Franklin and company. Listed as a defensive end, he's viewed by the Penn State staff as a defensive tackle, and Durant said Scott compared him with Kevin Givens, a former Nittany Lion who now plays on the defensive interior for the San Francisco 49ers on the NFL.
Zane Durant commits to Penn State
Durant's Coach: 'I couldn't ask for a better player to work with'
Linebacker Keon Wylie
Keon Wylie picked up an offer from the Nittany Lions in April 2020. By that time, a handful of top programs had already made the more, including Oklahoma and Michigan. Overall, he earned 29 scholarship offers, and in the final months of his recruitment, it was clear that Penn State, Kentucky and Pitt were the three schools recruiting him the hardest.
Pitt was the first school to host him for an official visit back on June 10-12, followed by Penn State that next weekend, June 18-20. Wylie actually admitted that he committed to Penn State before leaving campus that day, although he did still go to Kentucky, June 25-27. If Wylie signs with the Nittany Lions, he'll be the first player from Imhotep Charter since DE Shaka Toney in the Class of 2016.
Keon Wylie commits to Penn State
Offensive Lineman JB Nelson
JB Nelson became Penn State's 13th commitment in the Class of 2022, and the second from Lackawanna Community College, joining safety Tyrece Mills. Nelson, a 6-foot-5, 320-pound offensive guard, has all the physical qualities of a solid contributor at that position for offensive line coach Phil Trautwein.
Penn State offered Nelson after the Whiteout Camp on June 6, and his recruitment developed quickly from there. Penn State was a place that Nelson has wanted to play since he was a kid, he said, and he also has some family ties to the university. He ultimately chose the Nittany Lions despite interest from Maryland, Ole Miss, NC State and West Virginia, becoming the third offensive lineman in this class.
Penn State adds Lackawanna OL JB Nelson to Class of 2022
Penn State is getting a 'sneaky athletic' O-lineman in JB Nelson
Wide Receiver Tyler Johnson
Tyler Johnson's recruitment was relatively quick, as Penn State didn't extend an offer until about a month before he committed, May 18. He started out speaking with Ty Howle primarily before getting to know Taylor Stubblefield, and once both sides felt comfortable with each other, they wasted little time when it comes visiting, as Johnson came to University Park for an unofficial visit on June 16.
He worked out for the staff that afternoon, running a 4.47-second 40 and a 4.18-second shuttle. Those times, combined with his work during field drills solidified the offer. Penn State's staff then decided to bring him back to campus less than 48 hours later for an official visit, June 18-20. He ended up calling the staff to commit on the ride home from that visit, and would announce his commitment publicly June 21.
Virginia WR Tyler Johnson calls Penn State 'the right fit'
Penn State impresses WR Tyler Johnson & family during official visit
Kicker Alex Bacchetta
Alex Bacchetta is the No. 1 ranked punter in the Class of 2022 by Kohl's Kicking, and he said he'll focus on that, along with holding and kickoff duties, which he wants to compete for when he arrives at Penn State. Bacchetta is a product of Westminster in Atlanta, which also produced former Penn State punter Blake Gillikin. Bacchetta and Gillikin have worked out together in the past and maintain a close relationship.
Bacchetta received offers from Arkansas and Virginia, while Baylor and Alabama also expressed an interest. He has other connections to Penn State, but his choice to commit to James Franklin and his staff came down to feeling valued. He said the staff treated him like he was a five-star quarterback, which was important to him.
Safety Tyrece Mills
Tyrece Mills picked up an offer from Penn State at the end of March. With Lackawanna playing just two games this spring before the season was canceled, there isn't much film on Mills, but the staff's connection with Lackawanna head coach Mark Duda and the whole program allowed them to offer Mills before other schools came into the mix. He didn't speak about his recruitment much before making what was somewhat of a surprise commitment on May 5.
A native of Philadelphia, we learned that Mills has maintained a very close relationship with Deion Barnes, who's now a grad assistant at Penn State and was previously part of the staff at Northeast while Mills was still in high school. 'I know they're going to take care of their own there,' Mills said following his commitment. 'I know it's real genuine. Knowing somebody personally up there on the staff just makes that a lot easier.'
Tyrece Mills opens up about Penn State commitment
Q&A: Lackawanna head coach Mark Duda opens up about Tyrece Mills
Offensive Tackle Maleek McNeil
A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Maleek McNeil's size makes him an intriguing prospect at 6-foot-8, 340 pounds. But he combines that size with noticeable agility and speed that comes from a lifetime playing basketball, which makes him even more interesting for Phil Trautwein and James Franklin.
After taking a self-guided visit to campus during the spring, McNeil decided that he didn't need to wait for the dead period to open up to make his decision, spurning the idea of taking official visits and committing to the Nittany Lions on May 1. McNeil held eight offers by the time his recruitment wrapped up, including Auburn, Duke and Pitt. He chose Penn State from a final three that also included Boston College and Rutgers.
Penn State adds OL Maleek McNeil to Class of 2022
Film Evaluation: Maleek McNeil
2022 OL prospect Maleek McNeil discusses top-3, PSU unofficial visit
Quarterback Drew Allar
Drew Allar became the second quarterback commit in this class back on March 8. He was a priority for new offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich, but Allar made sure to cite the influence the entire coaching staff had on his decision, not just the new PSU play-caller. Allar's stock rose quickly, and it still continues to rise after a strong start at the Elite 11 this weekend.
Allar, a native of Medina, Ohio, chose the Nittany Lions over Notre Dame, Michigan, Texas A&M, Washington and Tennessee, earning 27 offers in total as of this writing. The Fighting Irish entered the picture late, offering Allar shortly before his commitment to Penn State, and there was some speculation that Allar might reconsider, but the Nittany Lions still won out. Allar shut down his recruitment at the same time as Beau Pribula, the other quarterback in this class.
QB Drew Allar commits to Penn State
Penn State QB commit Drew Allar talks Nittany Lions at Elite 11
Athlete Mehki Flowers
Mehki Flowers is one of the most exciting athletes in the state of Pennsylvania, and thus an absolutely crucial add for the Nittany Lions. He made New Years Day extra special for the Penn State coaching staff when he gave them his verbal commitment. Listed as an athlete, Flowers could play safety or receiver at the next level and has shown the level of athleticism and ball skills necessary for either role.
Flowers had 22 offers, including the likes of Arizona State, Rutgers, Pitt, Nebraska Virginia Tech and West Virginia, but stayed in-state. "Home is where the heart is," Flowers said after his commitment. Staying nearby was important to him, as was the knowledge that his family can make the trip whenever they want.
ATH Mehki Flowers commits to Penn State
Steel-High head coach Andrew Erby breaks down Mehki Flowers
Wide Receiver Anthony Ivey
Anthony Ivey's recruitment got kickstarted after he camped with the staff in June 2019. He then returned for a game a few months later in September and ultimately earned an offer from the staff shortly after that visit. It was Ivey's second FBS offer. Overall, he took four visits to Penn State in 2019, while Virginia and West Virginia also got him on campus before the pandemic shut in-person recruiting down.
He went on to earn 12 offers total, including an offer from Auburn in Aug. 2020, but come the fall, he knew his top schools, with Penn State, Arizona State and West Virginia all making the cut. He went on to commit to the Nittany Lions at the end of October. In four games last season, Ivey totaled 546 yards on 23 receptions, scoring eight touchdowns. For his career, he's up to 1,389 yards on 63 receptions (22 YPC) and 13 touchdowns.
WR Anthony Ivey commits to Penn State
Defensive End Ken Talley
One of the more enthusiastic members of Penn State's Class of 2022, Ken Talley committed to Penn State back in September of 2020, becoming the fifth member of the class. He has a close relationship with Penn State graduate assistant Deion Barnes, who formerly served as the defensive coordinator at Northeast High School, which Talley currently attends. Now, Talley is an active recruiter himself, frequently interacting with other prospects online and encouraging them to give the Nittany Lions a chance.
Originally, it was believed that he'd play linebacker at the next level, but he's since packed on the pounds and is now roughly 6-foot-2, 245 pounds. Because of that, he's expected to play defensive end. Talley chose the Nittany Lions from 21 offers, with Florida, Michigan and Texas A&M being a few notable schools. Before his commitment, however, he narrowed his list to Penn State, Arizona State and Tennessee.
Offensive Lineman Drew Shelton
Drew Shelton grew up outside of Downingtown, Pa., and played for Downingtown West his first three seasons before transferring to IMG Academy this past winter. A true offensive tackle prospect, he's been Penn State's top-ranked committed throughout the entire class. The Nittany Lions were one of the first handful of schools to offer back in May 2020, and he took a self-guided tour of campus that August, just about a month before he announced his commitment.
Since transferring to IMG, he's picked up interest from a handful of schools, but it ultimately ended up being Florida, who had already offered previously, that proved to be Penn State's top competition this summer when he decided to take visits. Shelton took an official visit to Gainesville during the second weekend in June, but he returned to State College for the other three weekends, while also squeezing in weekday trips to Rutgers. He's yet to finalize his commitment, but we expect him to stick with his original commitment. Shelton is an Under Armour All-American.
Drew Shelton commits to Penn state
Quarterback Beau Pribula
A lifelong Penn State fan, Beau Pribula earned an offer from the Nittany Lions in March 2020. In his first season ever playing quarterback, he threw for 1,600 yards and 18 touchdowns in just eight games, which grabbed the eye of regional recruiter Tyler Bowen and then offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca. Pribula also camped with the staff the previous summer, so they knew what he could do athletically.
Overall, he would earn 12 scholarship offers, including schools like Nebraska, Northwestern Rutgers, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and West Virginia. Right before his junior season, he decided to end his recruitment, committing to Penn State on Aug. 3, 2020. A four-star prospect, Pribula led Central York to a 10-1 record and a spot in the PIAA 6A state championship in 2020. He threw for 2,156 yards, 34 touchdowns and just seven interceptions, while also rushing for another 519 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Catching up with 2022 quarterback commit Beau Pribula
Nitt Clips: Watch Beau Pribula total 340 yards of total offense in playoff game
Tight End Jerry Cross
Jerry Cross earned an offer from the Nittany Lions on April 30, 2020, and it was his fifth scholarship offer at the time, with Iowa State, Michigan, Michigan State and Wisconsin all offering previously. Almost immediately, Cross made it clear that he was very interested in Penn State, as he and Tyler Bowen clicked right from the start. It didn't take long for him to realize what he wanted to do either, as Cross would end up committing to Penn State on July 28, 2020.
A four-star prospect, Cross also earned offers from Arizona State and Purdue, but his commitment has been as firm as anyone's over the past year, despite the fact that he never even saw State College until this past weekend, June 25-27, when he took an official visit.
2022 TE Jerry Cross commits to Nittany Lions
Wide Receiver Kaden Saunders
Penn State's first commitment in the Class of 2020 came from Westerville South wide receiver Kaden Saunders. A Rivals250 member, Saunders was offered by James Franklin and his staff way back in March 2019 when he attended a junior day, and it was the first of four visits that he would end up taking to Penn State that year. Cincinnati, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Pitt, Texas and West Virginia would also host him for at least one visit each before the pandemic started. Overall, he earned more than two dozen scholarship offers.
Saunders announced a top seven that included Penn State, Arizona State, Indiana, Michigan, Notre Dame, TCU and West Virginia in June 2020, and he wound up committing to Penn State on July 25, 2020, but he wasn't completely done talking to other schools, as he admitted this past February that he was still in contact with Notre Dame. That continued for a few months, but then in May, he announced that he was done communicating with all other programs and was "locked in" with his commitment to Penn State. An Under Armour All-American, Saunders also earned MVP honors at wide receiver during the Five-Star Challenge in Atlanta recently.
Nitt Clips: Watch Kaden Saunders perform at the Five-Star Challenge
Nitt Clips: Catching up with Five-Star Challenge MVP Kaden Saunders
Film Evaluation: Kaden Saunders
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