Penn State football picks up commitment from 4-star in-state linebacker
Penn State added to its 2024 class for the first time in almost a year.
Four-star linebacker Anthony Speca announced his commitment to the Nittany Lions via his Twitter account Tuesday afternoon.
Speca is a 6-foot-2, 220-pound inside linebacker who plays for Central Catholic in Pittsburgh. He’s rated as the No. 328 player in the country, No. 26 linebacker in the country and No. 9 player in Pennsylvania by the 247Sports Composite player rankings.
He chose the Nittany Lions over scholarship offers from Michigan and Ohio State, among 17 others.
247Sports national recruiting analyst Brian Dohn compared Speca to current Penn State linebacker Tyler Elsdon in a scouting report on Speca’s 247Sports profile page.
“Verified size but did not test on the camp circuit,” Dohn’s report reads. “Highly productive player averaged more than 12 tackles a game as a junior. Physically advanced and possesses strength and mentality to get on field quickly in college. Muscular build throughout frame. Plays middle linebacker in Central Catholic’s 4-3 scheme. Excels as a downhill player in shooting gaps and disrupting plays. Playing style built as a run stopper who is physical between the tackles. Willing to take on big running backs in the hole. Capable blitzer who is smart with his assignments. Is able to sift through traffic and locate ball carrier.
“Adept at stacking and shedding. Reliable tackler who hits with force and goes through player. Strong lower body shows in way he explodes into ball carrier, and with standing up the runner. Understands depth drops in zone passing defense. Smart player and is able to transfer film study onto field. Plays with effort and intensity. Quick to diagnose plays and is fast in reacting. Does not shy away from competition or contact. Has to continue to work on speed to get to sideline against elite competition. Has to continue to develop lower body flexibility to help with leverage and change of direction, especially when blitzing. Multi-year starter at high-level college program. Has NFL draft potential.”
Speca joins four-star offensive lineman Cooper Cousins in Penn State’s class. Cousins is the No. 3 player in Pennsylvania according to the 247Sports Composite player rankings, giving the program two top-10 in-state commits early in the cycle.
The duo has Penn State at No. 24 overall, and No. 5 in the Big Ten, in the 247Sports Composite team rankings.
