STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — First impressions aren’t always the best or most fair. But in the case of cornerback Kenny Woseley, the early impression he made on his future high school football coach was a lasting one.
At the time, Woseley was a seventh-grader who attended a camp for defensive backs run by Devon Johnson, head coach at Philadelphia’s Imhotep Charter High School. Johnson saw a kid who already had good technique and was committed to getting better. What Johnson didn’t know at the time and what he’s found out in subsequent years is that Woseley is as consistent and steady as they come.
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The kid who asked a lot of questions is now 5 feet 11, 170 pounds and can tell you all about the opposing roster and who does what well.
Woseley has blossomed into one of the best football players in Pennsylvania and is a four-star prospect ranked No. 365 nationally in the 247Sports Composite. On Friday evening, the three-year starter at Imhotep announced his commitment to Penn State, where he’ll join the Nittany Lions’ 2024 class. Woseley’s other finalists included Michigan, Nebraska and Rutgers.
2222% COMMITTED #WEARE🦁
— kenny woseley II (@kwoseley35) March 3, 2023
“He’s been a staple in our program,” Johnson told The Athletic. “He’s also a STEM ambassador in our school so he leads the program from a student perspective. He’s also a part of our student section during basketball games. … He’s a great student, athlete and young man. I can’t say nothing bad about Kenny. He’s even always got a smile on his face.”
James Franklin and Penn State should be smiling now, too. Woseley is the fourth commitment in Penn State’s 2024 class. Linebacker Kari Jackson from West Bloomfield (Mich.) High School committed on Feb. 28.
So far this group includes verbal commitments from three players who come from various parts of Pennsylvania. There is offensive lineman Cooper Cousins (McDowell in Erie), linebacker Anthony Speca (Pittsburgh Central Catholic) and now Woseley (Imhotep in Philadelphia).
“Kenny is one of those guys that feels like he can be one of the catalysts to help get them over the hump,” Johnson said.
Other thoughts on the addition of Woseley:
It’s a great time to be a DB at Penn State
Joey Porter Jr. fielded questions at the NFL Scouting Combine this week and proclaimed himself to be the top corner in the 2023 draft class. The former Nittany Lion may be right. Back in State College, Kalen King is poised to be one of the top corners in college football this season. Pair that with safety Jaquan Brisker, who heads into his second season with the Chicago Bears, and Ji’Ayir Brown, who is one of the top safeties in this draft class, and Penn State is in the midst of an outstanding run of defensive backs.
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Cornerbacks coach Terry Smith was instrumental in landing all of those players and closed with Woseley. Smith knows the type of players he wants to recruit and coach, and Woseley’s skills made him highly attractive to Penn State. He’s a boundary corner at Imhotep and plays on every special teams unit.
“He has the technique to do whatever you need him to do,” Johnson said. “He can play zone. He can play man. He can play press man. He can play off-man. He can bail. He understands Cover 3 and is smart enough to make reads. He understands Cover 2. Great feet. Great hips. He’s just really savvy. He can nickel for us. He played safety for us for a couple games as well as outside corner. He’s one of those guys who we put everywhere in the secondary and he excels at whatever he does.”
The pipeline
Shaka Toney came from Imhotep to Penn State as part of the 2016 class. Linebacker Keon Wylie did so in the 2022 cycle. Penn State’s ability to maintain relationships with Imhotep — one of the top high schools in the state — is critical. It’s one thing to land a player from an important in-state program, but it’s another when the school continues to sign players from that place. Franklin has said it before with regard to McDonogh High School in Maryland: It’s a compliment to the program when a pipeline like this emerges. It means players from that school have had a positive experience at Penn State.
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Meet Enai White, the latest star recruit from unlikely prep powerhouse Imhotep Charter
Who steps up and helps lead this class?
Typically, this is where quarterbacks take the lead, but Penn State doesn’t have one yet in this cycle. But what it does have is Cousins, who has been committed since January 2022; Speca, who can continue working on Penn State’s pursuit of the state’s top prospect in Quinton Martin; Jackson, who is in a talent-rich area out of state; and Woseley, who doesn’t sound like he’ll be shy about recruiting others to Happy Valley.
“He’s gonna be all in,” Johnson said. “That’s his personality. He’ll start recruiting other kids to the class. He’ll be all about Penn State the same way he’s all about Imhotep right now.”
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Imhotep does not allow players to graduate early so Woseley won’t be on campus next winter. But being within driving distance was important to him, Johnson said. It also means Woseley can still attend spring practices and be around the program a fair amount.
Smith’s due diligence and Deion Barnes’ presence
It can’t be overstated how important Philadelphia is to Penn State recruiting and how much it’s improved in the last few years. Johnson stressed that Smith’s honest approach to recruiting resonates with recruits. If Smith believes a player is a good fit for Penn State, he’ll express that. Even if there isn’t a prospect at Imhotep in a particular year, Smith is still in the building making connections.
Deion Barnes, now an analyst at Penn State who presumably is in the running to be the team’s defensive line coach, was instrumental in Wylie’s signing with the Nittany Lions. He also was the reason Enai White, also from Imhotep, was even considering Penn State.
“The good thing about Deion is because he’s from the area, it’s more than just a regular, you know, college coach-player evaluation,” Johnson said. “He knows the kids and he might know their families. He knows what they went through so he got a little bit more insight and can really advocate for our kids, you know, at that level. I hope he gets that job. He’s definitely deserving of it. He’s a friend of the program for sure.”
(Photo of James Franklin: Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)
