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Penn State Football: 3 signees who’ll have instant impacts in 2021

By Chris Peterson

Nov 7, 2020; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin reacts to a play against the Maryland Terrapins during the second quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2020; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin reacts to a play against the Maryland Terrapins during the second quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
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Penn State football didn’t sign a high-ranking recruiting class in 2021, but there is still talent there and here are three signees who’ll play right away. 

For Penn State football and every other program in America, the 2021 recruiting class was unlike any other. Many recruiting classes wound up looking the same, but for the Nittany Lions, it ended up as a small class of signees with just 16 total.

Of course, the lack of overall numbers dropped Penn State’s ranking, which finished at No. 21 overall in the 2021 recruiting class, well as of right now, since there are still recruits out there, and sixth among Big Ten teams.

It wasn’t up to the standards that James Franklin has set recruiting as Penn State football coach, but it was a solid group all the same, especially when you dig down into it.

Out of the 16 signees in 2021, Penn State landed six four-star recruits according to the 247 sports composite rankings and 11 of them ranked in the top 500. In fact, the lowest-ranked recruit outside of a kicker, is three-star tight end Khalil Dinkins, who is 660 overall.

So the floor is solid and there is a still a nice ceiling, even with a three-star prospect at quarterback. Obviously, Penn State will need to recruit better in 2022 and beyond, but plenty of teams would take a top-25 recruiting class and here are three guys with an immediate chance to contribute next season.

4-star offensive tackle Landon Tengwall (No. 53 overall):

Landon Tengwall a 6-foot-6 tackle and the No. 7 prospect ranked ranked among offensive tackles from Olney, Maryland is the gem of the Nittany Lions 2021 class.

He’s got NFL potential written all over him and at some point, he’s going to be the starting left tackle for Penn State. But Penn State is going to need help on the interior next season, so it’s possible Tengwall plays right away on the inside, which he’s versatile enough to do.

If the Nittany Lions want to play their five best offensive lineman next season, there’s a good chance that Tengwall will be an early starter.

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