Daniel Jennings, a 4-star defensive end from West Virginia, will enroll at Penn State a year early and play for the 2025 Nittany Lions.
In the past, college football players often got a jumpstart on their careers by enrolling early to participate in spring practices. Now, some top prospects are going even further—reclassifying to graduate high school a year early and begin their college careers ahead of schedule. At Penn State, two defensive linemen have taken this route in back-to-back years.
Daniel Jennings, a four-star defensive line prospect originally part of Penn State’s 2026 recruiting class, has decided to reclassify to 2025. As a result, he’ll now be enrolling at Penn State this summer. Jennings told On3’s Steve Wiltfong that he plans to graduate early from Princeton High School in West Virginia and join the Nittany Lions in time for preseason camp.
“I’ve enrolled in homeschool and will be graduating this year,” Jennings said in the interview. “I’ll be signing with Penn State’s 2025 class in a few weeks.”
As I prepare to move on to new adventures, I want to take a moment to express my deepest appreciation for the incredible journey I’ve had at PSHS. The lessons learned, friendships formed, and memories created here will always hold a special place in my heart.🦁💙
✌🏽3️⃣out… #RR🕊️ pic.twitter.com/fIVePzROMr— Daniel Jennings (@DanielJennings_) May 16, 2025
Daniel Jennings committed to Penn State in August 2024, just as the Nittany Lions were kicking off fall camp ahead of a historic 13-win season that ended with a trip to the College Football Playoff semifinals. According to the 247Sports Composite, Jennings is the top-rated player in West Virginia and was ranked in the ESPN300 for the 2026 cycle.
He picked Penn State over offers from schools like West Virginia and Illinois. Now listed at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, Jennings told On3’s Steve Wiltfong that he’s added 20 pounds during the offseason.
After starting his high school career at Graham High in Virginia, Jennings returned to West Virginia to play at Princeton High last season. He earned first-team Class 3A all-state honors, rushing for 1,373 yards and 23 touchdowns while also recording 10 sacks, per West Virginia MetroNews.
Jennings becomes the second player in two years to reclassify and enroll early at Penn State. Last year, defensive end Max Granville did the same, leaving Fort Bend Christian Academy in Texas early to join the team in time for camp.
Granville went on to appear in seven games, including three in the postseason, and filled a major role after Abdul Carter went down with an injury in the Fiesta Bowl against Boise State. He now returns as a projected starter on the defensive line. Head coach James Franklin previously discussed how Granville’s early arrival came together.
“He had to finish summer classes to make it happen,” Franklin said. “Once that was done, and they brought up the idea of enrolling early, it showed us how serious they were about Penn State. But it came late in the process, so it took a lot of effort — completing applications, getting the right paperwork in place, and making sure everything lined up.”
Jennings’ move to the 2025 class drops Penn State’s 2026 recruiting group slightly in the rankings — from No. 4 to No. 5 — per the 247Sports Composite.
Penn State kicks off its 2025 season on August 30 at home against Nevada.
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