Two Pennsylvania Natives Commit To Penn State Football As Preferred Walk-Ons
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Jace Tutty and Stephen Ripka are staying close to home.
Tutty, an athlete from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, announced first Tuesday night that he’ll commit to Penn State football’s recruiting class of 2021 as a preferred walk-on run-on.
Tutty was recognized as second-team All-State linebacker after an impressive 2020 campaign, and was also named the Mountaineers’ Defensive MVP for the season. He also lined up at safety, wide receiver, and running back for his high school squad. Stroudsburg High School, which sits just under four miles from James Franklin’s alma mater East Stroudsburg University, finished with a 4-3 record in 2020.
Ripka announced his commitment to Franklin’s program as a preferred run-on just a couple hours later Tuesday night. He just wrapped up his time as a defensive back at Penns Valley Area High School.
According to his Hudl profile, Ripka earned 950 all-purpose yards as a return man and wide receiver in 2019. He also scored 13 total touchdowns and runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash. The 6’2″, 180-pound athlete also earned All-State honors after the 2020 season.
The pair of walk-ons now join a 2021 recruiting class that boasts 16 scholarship players, including defensive prospects Kalen and Kobe King and quarterback Christian Veilleux. The Nittany Lions have the sixth-best class in the Big Ten, according to 247Sports‘ rankings.
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