Four-star tight end Mack Sutter set his five official visits with Penn State, Ohio State, Illinois, Ole Miss, and Alabama.
With a history in college football dating back to 1889 and the same head coach leading the team for 46 of those years, Penn State has established a strong identity. The program is recognized for its linebackers and running backs, but recently, the Nittany Lions have been making a name for themselves as Tight End U.
While George Kittle has claimed the title for his offseason position seminars in Nashville, it’s challenging to argue for another college football program besides Penn State as the most successful tight-end producer in recent years. Under James Franklin’s leadership in Happy Valley, five Nittany Lion tight ends have been drafted into the NFL, and this spring, Tyler Warren is likely to be the first to enter the first round.
Warren’s outstanding performance under offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki last season, where he ranked seventh in Heisman voting — an unusual feat for a player in his position — has made it easier for Franklin, Kotelnicki, and tight ends coach Ty Howle to attract top recruits to Penn State.
In the 2025 recruiting class, Penn State secured four tight ends: three-star Matt Henderson, three-star Brian Kortovich, four-star Jeff Exinor Jr., and Andrew Olesh, the No. 3 ranked tight end in the nation, who flipped from Michigan on signing day and is regarded as a five-star prospect by On3.com.
Currently, the Nittany Lions’ recruiting trio is focusing on the 2026 class and four-star tight end Mack Sutter. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound tight end is ranked No. 106 overall by 247Sports Composite rankings and is the No. 6 tight end nationally. On Saturday, Sutter revealed his top five finalists, which included the Nittany Lions.
NEWS: Four-Star TE Mack Sutter is down to 5️⃣ Schools, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’6 225 TE from Dunlap, IL is one of the Top TEs in the ‘26 Class
Where Should He Go?👇🏽https://t.co/oE9uNJtyTr pic.twitter.com/duYjvX7D6W
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) February 15, 2025
Penn State now faces competition from Illinois, Ohio State, Alabama, and Ole Miss to recruit the Dunlap, Illinois native. Sutter has arranged official visits with all five schools, which is essential for securing a player of his caliber.
The Nittany Lions boast one of the strongest tight end development programs in the nation, which has significantly benefited their recruiting efforts. However, if Kotelnicki takes a head coaching position next offseason, as he contemplated this winter, it could put a halt to the recent momentum that Franklin experienced in the 2025 recruiting class.
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