The Blue-White game has long been a staple for recruiting commitments, and this year’s isn’t unlike any other. Offensive lineman C.J. Thorpe (Pittsburgh, PA) has pulled the trigger for the Nittany Lions, adding another four-star recruit to the 2017 class. Thorpe’s father, Chris Thorpe, played for Penn State in the late 80s under Joe Paterno. And now the youngest Thorpe will follow in his father’s footsteps, picking Penn State over offers from Alabama, Auburn, Michigan, and Pittsburgh.

Thorpe’s position along the offensive line still remains in question, but the Pittsburgh native should give the Nittany Lions versatility. While he doesn’t have the prerequisite height at 6-foot-3 to play tackle, Thorpe has extremely long arms which allow him to play much longer than his height would indicate. Still, his best position is probably at guard. Thorpe’s a naturally powerful kid who dominates as a run blocker thanks to his natural, brute strength. Like most high school lineman, he’ll need some help with his technique, but the pieces are there to become a multi-year starter on the offensive line.

Welcome to Happy Valley, C.J.!