In December 2021, Penn State football signed what was perhaps the most-anticipated recruiting class in program history. Over four years later, most of those players’ college careers have come to an end, and we can finally reflect on whether or not the class lived up to the hype.

The class was ranked No. 6 nationally by 247Sports, with the Nittany Lions bringing in 26 players, including three five-star recruits. As the second-highest-ranked recruiting class in James Franklin’s coaching tenure at Penn State, this class came in with sky-high expectations. Many believed it would propel Penn State football to realistic national championship aspirations.

The hopes seemed to be coming to fruition during the 2022 season, with several players emerging as key pieces during their freshman season, including five-star running back Nicholas Singleton. He won Big Ten Freshman of the Year and propelled Penn State to a Rose Bowl victory over Utah. As the young talent developed, Penn State seemed poised to make a run in the coming years.

Despite the title aspirations, the class never carried the program to the top of the college football world. Many players never quite lived up to their high school hype and failed to find a place in Happy Valley, with several, such as four-star defensive backs Mehki Flowers and Cam Miller, transferring out before their careers ended and finding better fits on other teams.

However, judging this class based solely on championships would misconstrue what its real legacy is. The 2022 recruiting class was loaded with talent and players who succeeded immensely at Penn State. Many players will go on to or already play in the NFL. Former four-star Abdul Carter declared early and was drafted third overall by the New York Giants. Guys like Drew Allar, Kaytron Allen, Vega Ioane, Drew Shelton, Singleton, and more are projected to be picked in the 2026 draft.

The class has left a lasting impact on the program, and its history will last a long time. Singleton became the program’s all-time touchdown and all-purpose yards leader, and Allen became the team’s all-time leading rusher. While the 2022 class didn’t deliver a National Championship to the Nittany Lion faithful, it produced a generation of pros who made a lasting impact on the program that won’t soon be forgotten.