After receiving a vital commitment from three-star defensive lineman Aniti Paiva, the Nittany Lions are yet again in contention for another star defensive player in edge rusher Ifeanya Emedobi. However, they will have to compete with several other Big Ten schools to ensure he will end up in Happy Valley. Right now, the odds are seemingly stacked against them.
While Penn State won’t be doing battle with perhaps their biggest conference rival, Ohio State, they still have to contend with defending national champion Indiana, which also happens to be Emedobi’s home state. Michigan is no slouch in this race either as the current leaders. While they also have a new coach, they may be able to offer a bit more in terms of prestige and most importantly, CFP contention.
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What’s even more of a scary proposition is that while Emedobi has all his official visits lined up for next month, his visit to Happy Valley comes before his visits to the Hoosiers and Wolverines, respectively. That means if Matt Campbell truly wants a player of his caliber, he will have to go all out to impress the Indiana edge rusher.
As of right now, Emedobi is the No. 10 recruit in the state of Indiana, making him someone that Curt Cignetti would potentially love to have on the roster as an in-state recruit. After two years of building a roster through the transfer portal, Cignetti could put all his eggs in the Emedobi basket to curry favor with future in-state recruits. Still, Michigan is the early leader in the clubhouse according to 247Sports, with a 60% chance of securing Emedobi’s commitment.
While the odds may seem bleak for the Nittany Lions, the potential appeal of being a member of one of Penn State’s largest recruiting classes and a key centerpiece on a new look defense could sway Emedobi in a tense Big Ten battle. Whether or not it will be enough remains to be seen.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State in tense Big Ten battle for four-star Indiana edge rusher
