Penn State Makes Big Splash With 2028 4-Star Quarterback Commit

Penn State football just added a key foundational piece to its 2028 recruiting class.

With the 2027 cycle winding down, the Nittany Lions made a major addition to their 2028 group with a pledge from four-star quarterback James Armstrong on Thursday afternoon. Armstrong is ranked as the No. 4 Pennsylvania native, No. 10 quarterback and No. 169 overall prospect in the cycle, per the 247Sports composite rankings. He immediately becomes one of the biggest gets since head coach Matt Campbell took the reins of the program.

In addition to being one of the top gunslingers in the country and a premium in-state pickup, Armstrong’s early commitment gives Penn State a leg up in the class. The staff can turn its attention to other positions, while Armstrong can do some early peer recruiting. Having a premier arm in the program could prove to be a selling point for pass-catchers considering the Nittany Lions.

The Aliquippa native, who’s entering his junior year at Hopewell High School, is listed at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, giving him a relatively large frame. As a sophomore, he completed 125 of 207 pass attempts for 2,232 yards with 21 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He added 136 carries for 799 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground, showcasing a dual-threat skillset.

Armstrong first picked up an offer from quarterbacks coach Jake Waters while on an official visit in late March, making Penn State one of the first power conference programs to offer him. He’s built an impressive offer list, including Georgia, Ole Miss, Florida State, Auburn and others, and he’ll likely pick up more in the coming months before signing day. Other finalists in the decision were regional schools Pitt and Kentucky, with proximity to home seemingly being an important factor in his recruitment.

He joins four-star cornerback Deonte Flemings Jr. and kicker Carter Petri in the Nittany Lions’ 2028 haul, which now ranks No. 4 nationally and No. 2 in the Big Ten, per 247Sports.