Chimdy Onoh, nation's top unsigned offensive tackle, chooses Penn State Nittany Lions

Heading into the month of December, Dundalk (Maryland) offensive tackle Chimdy Onoh didn't have a Power 5 offer. 

But every year a handful of late-blooming prospects "pop" on the recruiting trail and find themselves as hot commodities in the new calendar year.

In the class of 2023, that was Onoh.

On Wednesday, the Maryland product finally ended his long, unusual recruitment, announcing his commitment to Penn State over fellow finalists Michigan State, Ole Miss and Rutgers. 

"I'm going to Penn State," he said. "I chose that because during the visit it felt like home. After talking to all of the coaches and all of the players I really believed in what they can turn me into in the end." 

Getting to that point, however, was quite a journey.

Once an Old Dominion pledge, the 6-foot-5, 270-pound lineman decommitted on December 15 and elected to wait until February to sign.

His recruitment soared. 

Onoh added offers from double-digit programs, highlighted by Colorado, Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Penn State and Rutgers.

He also jumped up the 247Sports' rankings and became the No. 13 offensive tackle in the country, making him the nation's highest-rated unsigned player at his position. 

"It's different, because my recruitment process is so unique, picking up so late," he said. "To (be ranked the top unsigned tackle), I'm just glad to get these opportunities." 

Onoh is the latest addition to Penn State's strong 2023 recruiting class, a group that ranks in the top-15 nationally and is led by a talented collection of offensive linemen.

The class headliner is Wyomissing (Pennsylvania) five-star offensive tackle J'Ven Williams, but he is joined up front by Broad Run (Virginia) four-star interior offensive lineman Alex Birchmeier, Lightridge (Virginia) four-star interior offensive lineman Anthony Donkoh and Onoh. 

That group is among the nation's best.

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