Penn State recruiting target pulls back the curtain on what he needs from Nittany Lions after locking in visit date

James Franklin will have his Penn State Nittany Lions squaring off against the Ohio State Buckeyes for a rising three-star interior lineman prospect from Cincinnati, Ohio. While Lual Aleu has been to Ohio State twice and Penn State once already, he’s pitted the Big 10 powers against each other. SEC contenders Georgia and Missouri are […]

Ian Valentino — National College Football Writer
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Apr 26, 2025; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen (13) runs with the ball during the first quarter of the Blue White spring game at Beaver Stadium. The White team defeated the Blue team 10-8. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images
Apr 26, 2025; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen (13) runs with the ball during the first quarter of the Blue White spring game at Beaver Stadium. The White team defeated the Blue team 10-8. © Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

James Franklin will have his Penn State Nittany Lions squaring off against the Ohio State Buckeyes for a rising three-star interior lineman prospect from Cincinnati, Ohio. While Lual Aleu has been to Ohio State twice and Penn State once already, he’s pitted the Big 10 powers against each other. SEC contenders Georgia and Missouri are on the outside looking in.

Aleu is seemingly on his way to making a four-star rating in 2027 if this fall goes as planned. Georgia, which has zero issues landing visits when they want to be involved, want Aleu on campus at some point. Franklin will have to ace his program’s first gameday chance to impress the 290-pounder.

The Oregon Ducks aren’t the only ones coming to Happy Valley on September 27. The Nittany Lions have locked in a ton of their top targets for that afternoon, making sure they show off how crazy it can get in a white out crowd. Aleu confirmed he’ll be in attendance.

At the top of Franklin’s pitch will be his ability to develop Aleu and get him to the NFL. We know the massive interior blocker wants that the most alongside great relationships.

“I really want to see the coaches again in person and continue strengthening the relationship between myself and more coaches on each staff…I’d say relationships and the ability to take the kids to the next level are important,” Aleu said. “The NFL is my goal. So then why not go to a school that, that produces guys that go to the NFL?”

With some pitches revolving around family ties and others being more about the future than the past, Franklin can boast a good NFL pipeline to offensive linemen looking at the Nittany Lions.

Here’s a list of all the Penn State offensive linemen drafted over the last five years:

  • Olumuyiwa Fashanu, No. 11 overall, 2024 NFL Draft
  • Caedan Wallace, No. 68 overall, 2024 NFL Draft
  • Hunter Nourzad, No. 159 overall, 2024 NFL Draft
  • Rasheed Walker, No. 249 overall, 2022 NFL Draft
  • Will Fries, No. 248 overall, 2021 NFL Draft

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