It took only one visit, but it was enough for Atlanta (Ga.) Westminster School Class from tight end of 2022 Holden Staes to make a decision. The four-star junior checked out of Penn State over the weekend and on Thursday night announced his commitment to the Nittany Lions.
“I was visiting all weekend and I really enjoyed it,” he told Lions247. “I love Penn State.”
Staes became the fourth member of Penn State’s Class of 2022 and the second tight end in the group, and contributed to the four-star Wisconsin star Jerry Cross. The Nittany Lions also hold Pennsylvania quarterback commitments Beau Pribula and Ohio four-star wide receiver Kaden Saunders in the cycle. The 2022 Nittany Lions Class ranks sixth nationally that day.
He was recruited for the Nittany Lions by close end coach and native Georgia Tyler Bowen.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound prospect is nationwide the No. 4 end of the nation and the No. 172 perspective overall according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He is the No. 12 tight end nationally according to 247Sports, which Staes also values as a four-star prospect.
Staes has an extensive offering list that includes Alabama, Arizona State, Auburn, Colorado, Duke, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, North Carolina, State of Ohio, Oregon , South includes Carolina, USC, USF and Wisconsin among the Power Five series.
He was last year a selection from the All-Region All-Region at Westminster, which produced former Penn State punters Blake Gillikin.
Although Penn State has no promise of a tight end in the 2021 Class, it now holds multiple player commitments on the position in future classes. Staes and Cross both control in the top 200 in the 2022 class and the Nittany Lions received a promise of the class 2023 Virginia standout Mathias Barnwell back in June. The Nittany Lions also took a few tight ends in their 2020 Class Theo Johnson en Tyler Warren.
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