Penn State’s 2014 recruiting class now stands at eight members with a verbal commitment from Marcus Allen, a 6-1, 187-pound safety from Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Per Rivals, Allen had also received offers from a number of Big Ten programs — Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, and Wisconsin, in addition to incoming members Maryland and Rutgers.

BREAKING: Upper Marlboro, Md. safety Marcus Allen has committed to #PennState

— Ryan Snyder (@BWISnyder) May 10, 2013

Allen is the third defensive prospect to commit to Bill O’Brien’s 2014 class, joining fellow defensive back Daquan Worley and linebacker Troy Reeder. Allen and Worley’s commitments will strengthen a thin Penn State secondary that will lose senior safeties Malcolm Willis and Stephen Obeng-Agyapong after the 2013-2014 season.

The safety from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, grades out as a 3-star prospect by Rivals, and a 4-star prospect by both Scout and 247sports. Rivals lists Allen as the 29th-ranked safety in the country.

Allen’s commitment caps off an impressive recruiting streak by O’Brien. In addition to having brought in Allen, Worley, and Reeder on the defensive side of the ball, O’Brien has also secured commitments from four-star receivers Troy Apke, DeAndre Thompkins, and Chris Godwin, and from running backs Nick Scott and Mark Allen.