Penn State lands commitment from 4-star CB Daryus Dixson

The future of Penn State’s secondary brightened on Monday morning when highly-rated cornerback Daryus Dixson, ranked No. 64 by ESPN in the 2025 class and the No. 4 prospect from California, announced his decision to play for the Nittany Lions.

Hailing from the powerhouse Mater Dei High School in Southern California, Dixson chose Penn State following his official visit to State College over the weekend. Despite recent visits to Washington and Miami, Dixson ultimately committed to Penn State. Standing at 6 feet tall and weighing 180 pounds, the talented defender now plans to end his recruitment process before a planned trip to Tennessee on June 14.

In an interview with ESPN, Dixson described his positive experience during his first visit to Penn State over the weekend, which convinced him to commit to a program located over 2,500 miles away from his home.

Discussing his visit, Dixson praised the college town environment at Penn State, highlighting the dedicated focus on sports and the electric game-day atmosphere. He also emphasized the strong connection he felt with the coaching staff.

One coach who played a crucial role in Dixson’s decision was Penn State’s cornerbacks and associate head coach Terry Smith, who had previously visited Dixson at Mater Dei.

Dixson appreciated Smith’s early efforts and noted that meeting the coaching staff in-person during his official visit reinforced the positive impressions he had of the program.

By committing to Penn State, Dixson joins as the sixth ESPN 300 recruit and the top defensive prospect in James Franklin’s 2025 class, alongside linebackers D.J. McClary (No. 145) and Alex Tatsch (No. 286) among other defensive talents set to join the team.

Additionally, four-star running back Alvin Henderson (No. 55) remains the highest-ranked member of Penn State’s incoming class, having committed to the Nittany Lions on April 11.