The Nittany Lions were ranked at No. 6 in the same preseason poll last year.
Franks is the third offensive lineman to commit to Penn State in this recruiting cycle.
Michael Johnson Jr. joined Taquan Roberson as the second quarterback commitment of Penn State's 2019 recruiting class.
James Franklin reeled in another wide receiver to join his 2019 recruiting class.
This is an official college football advisory: Here are the Nittany Lions making noise on preseason awards watch lists in 2018.
Reports call for a home-and-home series starting in 2026, which could cause scheduling issues for the Nittany Lions.