Is Penn State Football SETTLING for 3-Star Recruits? — Here’s the Truth…

Is Penn State football really settling by taking so many 3-star recruits in the 2026 class? Or is James Franklin and his staff playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers? In this episode of Locked On Nittany Lions, Zach Seyko explains why Penn State’s coaching staff evaluates talent differently from On3 and 247, and why star ratings are often misleading. Plus, we react to Penn State’s #2 national ranking for defensive line groups — fair or overrated?

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00:00 - Intro

01:10 - Penn State Adds Another 3-Star — Why Fans React Negatively

02:40 - Are 3-Stars Really 4-Stars in Disguise?

05:35 - Why Penn State Ignores On3 & 247 Rankings

08:18 - Underrated Stars: Dotson, Barkley, Fashanu & More

11:40 - 3-Star Recruits with Potential in the 2026 Class

14:45 - Why PSU Targets Cultural Fit Over Flash

17:10 - Penn State’s NIL Philosophy: Transformational, Not Transactional

19:30 - Class of 2026 Recruiting Breakdown & Names to Know

24:10 - Defensive Line Ranking Reaction: PSU Ranked #2 Nationally

25:40 - Is Deny Dennis-Sutton a Future All-American?

28:30 - Alonzo Ford’s Return and D-Line Depth Concerns

29:50 - Backup Concerns: Fisher, Chemistry, Harvey, More