Penn State fills WR need with signing of 4-star Jeff Exinor Jr.

James Franklin has landed how many verbal commitments in the past week?

It was a critical few days in a busy month that has seen the Nittany Lions’ 2025 class now have nine players commit in June. Six of those commitments have been made since June 21.

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Four-star wide receiver Jeff Exinor Jr. from Maryland’s McDonogh School is the latest commitment. Exinor chose Penn State over Maryland and Virginia Tech on Friday night. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound prospect is ranked No. 273 in the country by the 247Sports Composite and is the 11th-best athlete this cycle. Exinor, who is the 20th prospect to verbally commit this class, helps fill a critical need. Exinor joins wide receiver Lyrick Samuel, a four-star prospect from Brooklyn’s Erasmus Hall High School, as just the second wide receiver in this group.

1000% dedicated‼️ photo.twitter.com/wM2GAUgK6f

— Jeff “El Jefe” Exinor (@JrExinor) June 28, 2024

While much of the past week has been dominated by Penn State landing commitments from edge rushers in Kansas and Texas and a quarterback commit from San Marcos, California in 2026, Exinor’s pledge is a reminder that Penn State’s hold on McDonogh remains strong. No, the Nittany Lions won’t land every McDonogh prospect, a detail they were reminded of earlier this week when cornerback Brandon Finney picked Oregon over a group of finalists that included Penn State, but the Nittany Lions’ passing percentage is still remarkably high there.

It’s still the school 40 miles from College Park, Maryland, that Franklin has had strong ties to since his Maryland days and from which Penn State director of player personnel Kenny Sanders graduated in 2000. Because of these factors, McDonogh has become one of the biggest talent conduits for Penn State football.

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Former Nittany Lions like Curtis Jacobs and P.J. Mustipher once starred at McDonogh, while Penn State’s current roster features three scholarship players — defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton, defensive end Mason Robinson and defensive tackle Dvon Ellies — all from the school.

Exinor concluded its official visits this month with trips to Penn State and Maryland. It was Terrapins offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Josh Gattis, one of the original members of Franklin’s Penn State staff, who recruited him to Maryland.

(Photo: Matthew OHaren/USA Today)