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

4-star defensive end Davon Townley (No. 321)

On national signing day, Penn State football ended up being one of the winners simply by landing Davon Townley, a 6-foot-6 defensive end out of Minneapolis.

The Nittany Lions beat out Nebraska to get him and it’s a good thing they did because they are going to need pass rushers after sack leader Shaka Toney is headed to the NFL along with some other key contributors up front.

Penn State didn’t have a great pass rush in 2020, but its best pass rushers aren’t returning and while some help was added in the transfer portal with defensive end Arnold Ebiketie, there is certainly going to be an opportunity for snaps and Townley could take advantage.

I’d feel even better about his chances of being an early impact player if he was an early enrollee such as three-star defensive end Rodney McGraw, but Townley is among the most talented recruits in this Penn State class and he’s coming in at a clear position of need.

That is the perfect recipe for an instant impact player.