Penn State Extends 2024 Recruiting Success in Pennsylvania

Mylachi Williams, a 4-star defensive standout, commits to the Lions' talented 2024 class.

Matthew O'Haren/USA Today Sports

Penn State added another highly ranked Pennsylvania player to its 2024 recruiting class, as defensive end Mylachi Williams announced his commitment to the Lions. Williams is the 22nd player to join Penn State's 2024 class and another prospect recruited by new defensive line coach Deion Barnes.

A 4-star prospect according to the 247Sports Composite, Williams is a rising senior at Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast High in Drexel Hill. He is the No. 7 prospect in Pennsylvania and a top-25 player nationally at his position, according to the 247Sports Composite.  Penn State now has received commitments from seven of the state's top-20 players, including the top two in athlete Quinton Martin and offensive lineman Cooper Cousins.

Williams (6-3, 215 pounds) is an athletic defender who can play end and linebacker. He was named first-team all-Catholic League last season and cultivated a strong recruiting resume over the past year. Williams, who made an official visit to Penn State this weekend, has offers from Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Colorado, among others. He visited Notre Dame for its spring game in April.

Penn State has received two commitments since the June official-visit season closed, both from defensive linemen (the first was from Washington, D.C., edge rusher De'Andre Cook). Their decisions underscore the impact of Barnes, who was promoted to defensive line coach in April. Barnes has been an impact recruiter for the Lions, particularly in the Philadelphia area, and is beginning to build the position in his vision.

"I've seen what [high school players] went through and have been in those buildings," Barnes said. "It’s a good thing for me get back to that ground where it all started. This is why I got into coaching, to make sure every young man who came up like me with those same assets and qualities I had makes it and goes even further. It’s a beautiful thing."

The best in PA stay in PA!!!🦁🦁🦁 pic.twitter.com/Yy8Exmkp12

— Mylachi Williams (@24MylachiW) July 9, 2023

The Lions generated seven commitments during June, a period in which the program hosted about 50 official visits. Andy Frank, Penn State's general manager of personnel and recruitment, called June the most important month of the recruiting calendar.

"June has really become, probably from a recruiting perspective, the biggest month and most busy month in college football because of the summer official visits," Frank said.

Penn State's 2024 recruiting class ranked seventh nationally and third in the Big Ten before Williams' commitment, according to the 247Sports Composite.